[:en]
Hard to believe, but it was just over 2 years ago that our first release, Akwaaba wo Africa, came out worldwide. What a journey it’s been since then! 2 dozen releases spanning the gamut from Nigerian highlife to Gambian griot kora, Angolan kuduro to Benin salsa… We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with artists from 12 countries, not counting the numerous remixes pouring in from Mexico, Israel, Argentina, all over Europe and North America.
For us this release is at heart a big thank you, Thank you for helping us carve out a niche on this overcrowded web. Thank you for helping us connect the dots between talented, hardly-known local artists and music lovers worldwide. Thank you for playing our music on your radio shows, for pushing it on your blogs, for playing it at work and letting the world know where the music is coming from. We have been overwhelmed with the response, the emails, big ups and shout outs, and we start the year with a huge smile, filled with all the energy required to keep tons of fresh music coming your way.
So here it is, a collection of 50 songs giving a thorough taste of what Akwaaba is about: an open ear tuned in to sound made in Africa. We priced this mega-compilation at a ridiculous minimum price of $10. I mean, in many ways the price tag seems ridiculous, but if you feel differently, hell, shoot us an email and let’s bargain some more 😉 You can buy this compilation from us directly only, secured credit card payment and all that good stuff. It will not be available on iTunes or anywhere else.
Along with the songs comes a fantastic mix by DJ Zhao. We asked him to do this mix for us because he is one of the very few DJs we know, who can piece together a mix not made exclusively for the dancefloor. So here goes one hour covering so many of the sounds we have been pushing. Really, an epic journey into the heart of contemporary African pop music.
[:fr]
Difficile à croire, mais ça ne fait pourtant que 2 ans depuis notre première sortie mondiale Akwaaba wo Africa. Tellement de choses se sont passées depuis ! Deux douzaines de sorties qui couvrent un éventail allant du Highlife nigérian au griot gambien joueur de kora, du Kuduro angolais à la Salsa béninoise…Nous avons eu le plaisir de collaborer avec des artistes de 12 pays, sans compter les nombreux remixes en provenance de Mexico, Israël, d’Argentine, de toute l’Europe et l’Amérique du Nord.
Pour nous cette sortie est du fond du cœur un grand merci, merci de nous avoir aidé à creuser une niche dans un web surpeuplé. Merci de nous avoir aidé à connecter des artistes locaux talentueux et difficiles d’accès aux amoureux de la musique du monde entier. Merci d’avoir joué notre musique dans vos shows radios, sur vos blogs, au travail, et d’avoir dit au monde d’où la musique provient. Nous avons été débordé de réponses, emails, dédicaces et félicitations, et on débute l’année avec un grand sourire, pleins de l’énergie requise pour continuer de vous faire parvenir des tonnes de musique tout fraîche.
Donc la voilà, une collection de 50 titres, un aperçu global de ce qu’est Akwaaba : une oreille ouverte et tournée vers les sons en provenance d’Afrique. Nous avons fixé cette méga-compilation au prix minimum (et ridicule) de 10$. On veut dire que sous beaucoup d’aspects le prix nous paraît ridicule, si vous n’étiez cependant pas de notre opinion, et bien envoyez-nous un email, et lançons les négociations 😉 Vous ne pouvez acheter cette compilation que par nous directement, paiement sécurisé etc. Elle ne sera pas disponible sur iTunes ou autre.
En plus des sons vous avez droit également à un mix excellent de DJ Zhao. On lui a demandé de réaliser ce mix pour nous car c’est l’un des rares DJ que l’on connaisse à être capable de composer un mix qui ne soit pas fait exclusivement pour bouger en soirée. C’est donc une heure de beaucoup de sons dont on a fait la promotion, un véritable voyage épique au cœur de la pop music contemporaine d’Afrique.
[:de]
Hard to believe, but it was just over 2 years ago that our first release, Akwaaba wo Africa, came out worldwide. What a journey it’s been since then! 2 dozen releases spanning the gamut from Nigerian highlife to Gambian griot kora, Angolan kuduro to Benin salsa… We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with artists from 12 countries, not counting the numerous remixes pouring in from Mexico, Israel, Argentina, all over Europe and North America.
For us this release is at heart a big thank you, Thank you for helping us carve out a niche on this overcrowded web. Thank you for helping us connect the dots between talented, hardly-known local artists and music lovers worldwide. Thank you for playing our music on your radio shows, for pushing it on your blogs, for playing it at work and letting the world know where the music is coming from. We have been overwhelmed with the response, the emails, big ups and shout outs, and we start the year with a huge smile, filled with all the energy required to keep tons of fresh music coming your way.
So here it is, a collection of 50 songs giving a thorough taste of what Akwaaba is about: an open ear tuned in to sound made in Africa. We priced this mega-compilation at a ridiculous minimum price of $10. I mean, in many ways the price tag seems ridiculous, but if you feel differently, hell, shoot us an email and let’s bargain some more 😉 You can buy this compilation from us directly only, secured credit card payment and all that good stuff. It will not be available on iTunes or anywhere else.
Along with the songs comes a fantastic mix by DJ Zhao. We asked him to do this mix for us because he is one of the very few DJs we know, who can piece together a mix not made exclusively for the dancefloor. So here goes one hour covering so many of the sounds we have been pushing. Really, an epic journey into the heart of contemporary African pop music.
[:]