We’ve been really, really bad about keeping the site up to date these last couple of weeks. We’re just too busy schmoozin’ around in Accra! These photos will give you a quick taste of the types of encounters we’re making on the ground in Ghana. Left to right, top to bottom:
Panji of Pigen Music had some spare time this morning, so he shared some of his stories and thoughts about music, music in Ghana, where he fits in and where global fans and exposure fit in. An interesting point he made is that music made anywhere should appeal to the musicians immediate surrounding. By extension, he considers that taking an African artist and modifying his sound to appeal to a specifically western audience is doomed for failure. We couldn’t agree more!
Panji also told us an interesting anecdote explaining how he became involved with recording and production: playing the guitar along with a piano, he always had to be closer to the microphone, since the piano is louder. After experimenting with mic placement, and soon 2 track recording, he actually got pretty good at it. Fast forward 25 years (Panji started real young!), he’s still pretty good at it, and is one of the most forward thinking producers in Ghana.
Next was Dela of Hewale Sound, a great beo-traditional ensemble. After chatting with him about his past experiences sharing Ghanaian folklore all over the world, he invited us to a small concert right behind the National Theater. Balafon, djembe, cajon, calabash shaker, cowbell and flute… They got everybody dancing!! No photos to upload just yet: blackberry and wordpress still have a lot to learn from each other…
Last but not least we saw Appietus again today, and we discussed big plans together… We don’t want to jink anyx`thing, but keep his name in mind, it looks like he’ll be popping up here often.
We dig Dubian’s weekly radio show Dubearth, and sure enough our new Quebec City homie was down to compile some of the sounds from Jahman Eselem and Eden Roots Liberation‘s albums. Enjoy his tasteful set of roots reggae, perfect for today’s occasion… below are links to listen and download both albums. The right column of this blog has other links to iTunes and Amazon, and you can listen to more of Dubian’s mixes here.
In Dubian’s own words:
“I’ve been into dub and reggae for a number of years now but it wasn’t until about 4 years ago that I started to really make it my main style. It had always had its place in my music collection which is varied but I’d say that I developed a real passion for rootsy sounds about 7-8 years ago when I started getting my hands on everything that I could.
Musical styles which have really inspired me include delta blues, bebop, krautrock, jungle, dubstep and funk carioca to name some of the ones that keep popping back up in my sets. More than anyone else I think King Tubby and Scientist have the biggest influence in my current sound.
This mix came together very fast, I felt very inspired making it. I spent a whole day just going trough my collection trying to find the right tracks. When you have the right tracks everything just comes together and selection is often the most neglected part of the job. Basically within a few days of organizing the project through twitter and skype with Benjamin from Akwaaba we had a finished product.
I love the fact Jahman Eselem decided to cut versions for each track on his album. Big ups to keeping tradition alive! And what massive dubs they are. As for Eden Roots Liberation they have a great sense of groove and hook and write some damn catchy riddims. Great Players too a very tight band. Both were a lot of fun for me to include in this mix and I just hope I managed to bring out the best in their irie sounds.”
As we get ready to fly out to Ghana to meet with local music studios, it is very inspiring to listen to Baaba Maal singing in Kirina, Mali. He’s there with the Playing For Change foundation, who have started building music schools in Africa. In their own words:
“The Playing For Change Foundation is building a new music school in the Village of Kirina, Mali. Kirina is a village of musicians, some of whom can trace their musical ancestry back over 75 generations! In this very special episode West African music legend Baaba Maal and friends perform for the village elders in honor of the new “Playing For Life” music school that is just beginning construction.”
So fast forward, we’re about to release a great kwaito / kwassa / house album by Botswana’s Skeat, and we thought that was a fitting excuse to ask Umb to do a quick recap of the HOTTT sounds gravitating around house and Africa…
A few words from Umb:
Highlights: “Some of the African house tracks that have been constants in my sets for several years but which I have not heard many other people play and so I’d like to keep it that way..lol… The stuff that DJ Gregory is doing with Club Kuduro is really interesting me and it’s possibly the most accessible form of Kuduro for the clubs, even more accessible than what Buraka did!”
“The mix is not all strictly house, there’s elements of Barefoot in their too represented by a great new artist I’ve discovered called SiQ Nature who is a guy living in the Cook Islands, a more detailed feature on him coming to Gen Bass soon!”
“Personally, for me, I think my favoutite bit of the mix is when I blend Mokoomba messe messe by Dj Gregor Salto over a Kuduro beat! I’m not a laptop DJ and so all mixing is done on Pioneer CDJ’s and this mix is another one take/first cut cause I HATE repeating mixes and so a lil’ rough around the edges like most of my mixes!”
Good lookin’ out Mr Umb!!!!! Mix had some mastering fine-tuning courtesy of Mr Peter Pozorek, one of Umb’s usual partners in crime…!
