Akwaaba on Arte ‘Tracks’
On October 7 2010, Arte‘s flagship music program Tracks did a piece about Sound Hunters. This is the first half of the piece, focused on Akwaaba Music and label boss Benjamin Lebrave. Thanks to Arte for letting us post!
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Ruff-n-Smooth feat. Iwan – Time Changes
Brand spankin’ noo! Listen or grab the track from Bandcamp below:
Elegom Bounsa!!
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DJ Djeff feat Maskarado – Elegom Bounsa by Akwaaba Music
DJ Djeff offers a break from the raw Angolan kuduro batidas, and shows us a clubbier side to the Luanda sound on Elegom Bounsa, a collaboration with kuduro-house darling MC Maskarado.
House and deep house are the result of years in Portugal’s club circuit, inspired by the likes of Louie Vega, DJ Gregory or Erick Morillo. Looking further, DJ Djeff’s music has roots in African and Caribbean classics such as Cesaria Evora or Kassav, tunes he would hear a lot growing up in a Cape Verdian and Angolan household in Lisbon.
From 2002 to 2008, DJ Djeff was perfecting his DJing skills at various clubs in Portugal and Angola. When he completed his graphic design course in Lisbon in 2008, he headed straight to Luanda, where he’s taken the club circuit by storm, while also honing his skills as a beat maker. But there’s more: DJ Djeff is also the host of Made in Angola on TV Zimbo, an influential TOP 10 music video show in Angola.
DJ Djeff has quickly made a name for himself on Angola’s music and club circuit, landing him a collaboration with Maskarado, a familiar voice – and face – in Angola: Maskarado has become the go-to kuduro MC for all kuduro / house crossovers, collaborating with producers such as Eliei, but also working as an actor with film makers such as Ho Chi Fu.
Despite their busy schedules, the two found time to record this big, big tune. Not a day goes by in Luanda without hearing Elegom Bounsa, we feel sharing it is way overdue! A nova dica pai!
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DJ Djeff feat Maskarado – Elegom Bounsa by Akwaaba Music
DJ Djeff nous propose de mettre de côté un instant les batidas brut du kuduro Angolais et nous montre un aspect plus club du son luandais avec Elegom Bounsa, une collaboration avec le chéri de la kuduro-house MC Maskarado.
La House et la Deep House sont le résultat d’années passées dans le milieu club du Portugal, inspirés par exemple par Louie Vega, DJ Gregory ou Erick Morillo. En allant chercher plus loin, la musique de DJ Djeff trouve ses racines dans les classiques africains et caribéens comme Cesaria Evora ou Kassav, des morceaux qu’en grandissant dans une famille cap-verdienne et angolaise à Lisbonne il a beaucoup entendus.
De 2002 à 2008, DJ Djeff a parfait ses compétences de DJing dans un certain nombre de clubs au Portugal et en Angola. Dès qu’il termine ses études de design graphique à Lisbonne en 2008, il part à Luanda sur le champ, où il a complètement retourné le monde des clubs tout en affûtant ses compétences de beat-maker. Mais il y a autre chose encore : DJ Djeff est aussi l’organisateur de Made in Angola sur TV Zimbo, un show de TOP 10 de clips influent en Angola.
DJ Djeff s’est rapidement fait un nom dans le milieu des clubs et dans la musique angolaise, ce qui le conduit à collaborer avec Maskarado, une voix (et un visage) familiers en Angola : Maskarado est devenu le MC de kuduro en vogue pour tous les projets kuduro / house, collaborant avec des producteurs tels que Eliei, mais travaillant aussi comme acteur pour des réalisateurs comme Ho Chi Fu.
Malgré leurs emploi du temps chargés, tous deux ont réussi à trouver un moment pour enregistrer ce gros, gros son. Pas un jour ne passe à Luanda sans que l’on entende Elegom Bounsa, ça nous donne l’impression d’être en retard en le partageant ! A nova dica pai !
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DJ Djeff feat Maskarado – Elegom Bounsa by Akwaaba Music
DJ Djeff offers a break from the raw Angolan kuduro batidas, and shows us a clubbier side to the Luanda sound on Elegom Bounsa, a collaboration with kuduro-house darling MC Maskarado.
House and deep house are the result of years in Portugal’s club circuit, inspired by the likes of Louie Vega, DJ Gregory or Erick Morillo. Looking further, DJ Djeff’s music has roots in African and Caribbean classics such as Cesaria Evora or Kassav, tunes he would hear a lot growing up in a Cape Verdian and Angolan household in Lisbon.
From 2002 to 2008, DJ Djeff was perfecting his DJing skills at various clubs in Portugal and Angola. When he completed his graphic design course in Lisbon in 2008, he headed straight to Luanda, where he’s taken the club circuit by storm, while also honing his skills as a beat maker. But there’s more: DJ Djeff is also the host of Made in Angola on TV Zimbo, an influential TOP 10 music video show in Angola.
DJ Djeff has quickly made a name for himself on Angola’s music and club circuit, landing him a collaboration with Maskarado, a familiar voice – and face – in Angola: Maskarado has become the go-to kuduro MC for all kuduro / house crossovers, collaborating with producers such as Eliei, but also working as an actor with film makers such as Ho Chi Fu.
Despite their busy schedules, the two found time to record this big, big tune. Not a day goes by in Luanda without hearing Elegom Bounsa, we feel sharing it is way overdue! A nova dica pai!
[:]
Support Just A Band & Africa Unsigned
Have you heard of Africa Unsigned? Since you’re here on our site then you’ll probably really dig what they are up to: Africa Unsigned has been identifying up and coming artists throughout Africa, and funding recordings with the help of fans all over the world. Among others, Africa Unsigned worked with Just A Band shortly after they completed their album 82, to help them put together a decent live show, as well as a better studio for their next recording.
Check out how the whole thing works here. But in a nutshell: you contribute any dollar amount, and when the band reaches the target – $10,000 – it is ready to cash in the dough and record songs. And you are oh-so-special my dear Akwaaba fan: Africa Unsigned is letting you register and contribute $5 for free, simply go and register here and use the code ‘akwaaba’. Just by registering you will automatically be contributing $5, which we encourage you to contribute to Just A Band’s page ;-p And of course we all hope you feel compelled to contribute some more!
While we’re at it, here’s a bit of behind the scenes action on Just A Band’s shoot for Ha-He – courtesy of Africa Unsigned.
GH LOVE
GH LOVE by Akwaaba Music A taste of the sounds we heard in Ghana, the sounds you’d hear if you were there now, and quite a few sounds we’re releasing here on Akwaaba. Chale sink in, this is music for everyone!!!! Tracklist:
01 – NANA BOROO – EHA YE DE (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
02 – KPATONSI – ABOCHI ANGO
03 – KOFI NTI & OFORI AMPONSAH – RAKIA (iTunes)
04 – MIKE MENTOR (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
05 – OLD SODJA – CASH’N’CARRY REMIX FEAT AGYA BOMOFOUR (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
06 – MIKE MENTOR (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
07 – KOFI NTI & OFORI AMPONSAH – WAKE UP REMIX (iTunes)
08 – APPIETUS – DOME NA MENDOWO FEAT CASTRO (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)
09 – RUFF’N’SMOOTH – SWAGGER FEAT STAY JAY (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)
10 – KK FOSU – NUMBER 1 FEAT D FLEX
11 – APPIETUS – SALA FEAT MOHAMED, D-FLEX & SCREW-FACE (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)
12 – APPIETUS – GHANA LADY FEAT MFRAMA (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)
13 – OFORI AMPONSAH – OTOOLEGE
14 – RUFF’N’SMOOTH – MONALISA (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)
15 – MIKE MENTOR – ONE MORE CHANCE (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
16 – OLD SODJA- KAAKYERE FEAT TINNY, CASTRO & REGGIE ZIPPY (UNRELEASED, AKWAABA MUSIC)
17 – R2BEES – KISS UR HAND FEAT WANDE COAL (iTunes)
18 – VIP – AWAY (iTunes)
19 – APPIETUS – MISS DOCTOR FEAT 4X4 (AKWAABA MUSIC, Bandcamp, iTunes)