Chop Our Music – 2 year Anniversary Super Release!

 

[: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.

supermix_cover2

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]

superrelease_cover_480_final_web

Difficile Ă  croire, mais ça ne fait pourtant que 2 ans depuis notre premiĂšre sortie mondiale Akwaaba wo Africa. Tellement de choses se sont passĂ©es depuis ! Deux douzaines de sorties qui couvrent un Ă©ventail allant du Highlife nigĂ©rian au griot gambien joueur de kora, du Kuduro angolais Ă  la Salsa bĂ©ninoise
Nous avons eu le plaisir de collaborer avec des artistes de 12 pays, sans compter les nombreux remixes en provenance de Mexico, IsraĂ«l, d’Argentine, de toute l’Europe et l’AmĂ©rique du Nord.

Pour nous cette sortie est du fond du cƓur un grand merci, merci de nous avoir aidĂ© Ă  creuser une niche dans un web surpeuplĂ©. Merci de nous avoir aidĂ© Ă  connecter des artistes locaux talentueux et difficiles d’accĂšs aux amoureux de la musique du monde entier. Merci d’avoir jouĂ© notre musique dans vos shows radios, sur vos blogs, au travail, et d’avoir dit au monde d’oĂč la musique provient. Nous avons Ă©tĂ© dĂ©bordĂ© de rĂ©ponses, emails, dĂ©dicaces et fĂ©licitations, et on dĂ©bute l’annĂ©e avec un grand sourire, pleins de l’énergie requise pour continuer de vous faire parvenir des tonnes de musique tout fraĂźche.

Donc la voilĂ , une collection de 50 titres, un aperçu global de ce qu’est Akwaaba : une oreille ouverte et tournĂ©e vers les sons en provenance d’Afrique. Nous avons fixĂ© cette mĂ©ga-compilation au prix minimum (et ridicule) de 10$. On veut dire que sous beaucoup d’aspects le prix nous paraĂźt ridicule, si vous n’étiez cependant pas de notre opinion, et bien envoyez-nous un email, et lançons les nĂ©gociations 😉 Vous ne pouvez acheter cette compilation que par nous directement, paiement sĂ©curisĂ© etc. Elle ne sera pas disponible sur iTunes ou autre.

supermix_cover2

En plus des sons vous avez droit Ă©galement Ă  un mix excellent de DJ Zhao. On lui a demandĂ© de rĂ©aliser ce mix pour nous car c’est l’un des rares DJ que l’on connaisse Ă  ĂȘtre capable de composer un mix qui ne soit pas fait exclusivement pour bouger en soirĂ©e. C’est donc une heure de beaucoup de sons dont on a fait la promotion, un vĂ©ritable voyage Ă©pique au cƓur de la pop music contemporaine d’Afrique.
[:de]

superrelease_cover_480_final_web

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.

supermix_cover2

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.

[:]

05/12 WW: Michel Pinheiro – Agoh

[:en]

Michel recorded AtchĂȘgbĂȘ between Cotonou, Benin, and Paris, France. Too often, African artists cannot afford to hire a full ensemble of musicians, but on Agoh, you can hear right away that Michel is well surrounded. He’s worked as trombone player for many African musicians, lately Tiken Jah Fakoly, and has strong connections with talented African musicians all over the place. The combination of classic salsa with singing in Fon, French and some Spanish is quite tasty, hope you enjoy! The album is available in the iTunes music store.[:fr]

Michel a enregistrĂ© AtchĂȘgbĂȘ entre Cotonou, BĂ©nin et Paris, France. Trop souvent, les artistes africains ne peuvent se permettre d’engager un ensemble de musiciens, mais sur Agoh au contraire, vous entendrez immĂ©diatement que Michel est bien entourĂ©. Il a travaillĂ© comme trombone pour de nombreux artistes africains, derniĂšrement avec Tiken Jah Fakoly, et a des relations avec des musiciens africains talentueux un peu partout. La combinaison de salsa classique et de chants en Fon, Français et Espagnol est assez savoureuse, on espĂšre que apprĂ©cierez !

L’album est disponible sur l’ITunes Music Store.[:de]

Michel recorded AtchĂȘgbĂȘ between Cotonou, Benin, and Paris, France. Too often, African artists cannot afford to hire a full ensemble of musicians, but on Agoh, you can hear right away that Michel is well surrounded. He’s worked as trombone player for many African musicians, lately Tiken Jah Fakoly, and has strong connections with talented African musicians all over the place. The combination of classic salsa with singing in Fon, French and some Spanish is quite tasty, hope you enjoy! The album is available in the iTunes music store.[:]