Alec Lomami – Pop Revolution

Feb 17, 2012

It’s been a few months since the Fader article about Alec Lomami was published, and by now, his green card situation should have been sorted. Well, it hasn’t. And rather than choose to go to court to fight his asylum case again, Alec decided to avoid dealing with judges this time, and leave the US for some time until the situation is sorted. So today he flies to Zimbabwe. Not before releasing another tune however…

Pop Revolution is a song he recorded while he was in New York, surrounded by creative Africans: film makers, fashioned designers, writers, musicians. As Alec puts it: “It felt like I was part of a renaissance of some sorts, so part of me wanted to capture that moment in a song.” But there was a lot more going on at that time: “I was also monitoring the elections back home [DRC], I saw something I’ve never really seen the Congolese do before. Generally we are pretty easy going, we are known for wanting to party our problems away, but this time it seemed like people were tired and couldn’t take it anymore. So I wanted to capture that as well.”

Yet Alec doesn’t try to do political songs: “Not that I don’t care about politics, but when it comes to music, I have an existential approach to it, it’s pretty narcissistic. It’s a mean by which I’m purging my own demons, it’s the space where I allow myself to express my emotions.” And Alec also deliberately chooses to make pop music, which “has been known for being simple, and with no depth. While African Hip Hop has played a huge role fighting the powers that be. So, I wanted to keep the simple approach that many pop songs have but without being simplistic. I did a pop song while bringing a meaningful message. “

The song features Alec’s cousin Well$, a Congolese American based in Charlotte, North Carolina, whom Alec is producing. And the beat is by Hervé Wala of SoulStarZmuseeQ, a production outfit based out of Belgium, who contacted Alec some time ago to collaborate on a track. Done! Bam! Pop Revolution!

Pop Revolution by Alec Lomami

RELATED

Music Video: in and out by betina quest

Music Video: in and out by betina quest

in and out is about all those times of finding yourself in between the 'here', the 'there' and the 'nowhere' while trusting you will eventually find your way and the peace within. The visuals depict that very state of mind and lure you into that special space. Take a...

Lyrics Video: Jeune Lio – My Love feat. Magasco

Lyrics Video: Jeune Lio – My Love feat. Magasco

Follow up to Abidjan-based Cameroonian DJ and creative director Jeune Lio, here's the lyrics video to his debut single My Love featuring Magasco. Video animation was done  by Ozaki & Tiemo.       RELATED  Follow up to Abidjan-based Cameroonian DJ and...

Music Video: Solid K – Music on the Road

Music Video: Solid K – Music on the Road

  Music on the Road was shot by Daniel Kwabena Marmo of The 3 Suns.  According to Solid K, " The video tries to capture how I feel about music, it depicts how hard it is to explain with words. It shows what a surreal feeling it brings to me.  As can be seen, I walk...

Alec Lomami – Pop Revolution

It’s been a few months since the Fader article about Alec Lomami was published, and by now, his green card situation should have been sorted. Well, it hasn’t. And rather than choose to go to court to fight his asylum case again, Alec decided to avoid dealing with judges this time, and leave the US for some time until the situation is sorted. So today he flies to Zimbabwe. Not before releasing another tune however…

Pop Revolution is a song he recorded while he was in New York, surrounded by creative Africans: film makers, fashioned designers, writers, musicians. As Alec puts it: “It felt like I was part of a renaissance of some sorts, so part of me wanted to capture that moment in a song.” But there was a lot more going on at that time: “I was also monitoring the elections back home [DRC], I saw something I’ve never really seen the Congolese do before. Generally we are pretty easy going, we are known for wanting to party our problems away, but this time it seemed like people were tired and couldn’t take it anymore. So I wanted to capture that as well.”

Yet Alec doesn’t try to do political songs: “Not that I don’t care about politics, but when it comes to music, I have an existential approach to it, it’s pretty narcissistic. It’s a mean by which I’m purging my own demons, it’s the space where I allow myself to express my emotions.” And Alec also deliberately chooses to make pop music, which “has been known for being simple, and with no depth. While African Hip Hop has played a huge role fighting the powers that be. So, I wanted to keep the simple approach that many pop songs have but without being simplistic. I did a pop song while bringing a meaningful message. ”

The song features Alec’s cousin Well$, a Congolese American based in Charlotte, North Carolina, whom Alec is producing. And the beat is by Hervé Wala of SoulStarZmuseeQ, a production outfit based out of Belgium, who contacted Alec some time ago to collaborate on a track. Done! Bam! Pop Revolution!

Pop Revolution by Alec Lomami

RELATED

Music Video: in and out by betina quest

Music Video: in and out by betina quest

in and out is about all those times of finding yourself in between the 'here', the 'there' and the 'nowhere' while trusting you will eventually find your way and the peace within. The visuals depict that very state of mind and lure you into that special space. Take a...

Lyrics Video: Jeune Lio – My Love feat. Magasco

Lyrics Video: Jeune Lio – My Love feat. Magasco

Follow up to Abidjan-based Cameroonian DJ and creative director Jeune Lio, here's the lyrics video to his debut single My Love featuring Magasco. Video animation was done  by Ozaki & Tiemo.       RELATED  Follow up to Abidjan-based Cameroonian DJ and...

Music Video: Solid K – Music on the Road

Music Video: Solid K – Music on the Road

  Music on the Road was shot by Daniel Kwabena Marmo of The 3 Suns.  According to Solid K, " The video tries to capture how I feel about music, it depicts how hard it is to explain with words. It shows what a surreal feeling it brings to me.  As can be seen, I walk...