In the early 1970s, the newly autonomous nation of Zambia was carving out its own musical identity. Emerging bands like Peace and Ngozi Family fused distorted guitar sounds with bluesy riffs, soaring falsetto vocals, and Afrobeat rhythms influenced by Fela kuti to create a genre they called Zamrock. Leading this vibrant movement was Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda’s band Witch (We Intend to Cause Havoc). with a name inspired by Mick Jagger, Chanda infused the Rolling Stones’ energy into five albums characterized by lo-fi vocal textures and intricate progressive grooves.
Although the local music scene fragmented during the ’80s, reissues of their music in the ’10s reignited interest in Witch. In a remarkable comeback in early 2023, Chanda reunited with keyboardist Patrick Mwondela to release their first new album in nearly three decades titled Zango. Their latest offering, Sogolo, showcases an energized band ready to make waves.
While Zango featured Chanda, Mwondela along with new members Jacco Gardner on bass and Nico Mauskoviç on drums experimenting with soulful melodies blended with hip-hop influences; Sogolo ventures into fresh territory. The twelve tracks include upbeat reggae vibes on Entirely Devoted as well as community vocal harmonies on Tiponde Madzi; it also features desert rock reminiscent of Mdou Moctar in (In Remembrance Of) John.These stylistic explorations highlight the band’s versatility but it is within their classic heavy sound that Sogolo truly shines.
The opening track kamusale features a vibrant performance from the now-74-year-old Chanda who delivers powerful vocals over thunderous guitar riffs accompanied by pulsating talking drums—evoking an east African Black Sabbath vibe. The funky Queenless King recalls classic tracks from Witch’s heyday such as Idle Bones while Nadi could easily be mistaken for led zeppelin if not for Chanda’s playful Bemba lyrics gliding over chugging psychedelic riffs. These delightfully unconventional combinations affirm that Zamrock pioneers remain just as innovative today as they were back then.
New Releases This Month
The PVC pipe-playing ensemble Nana Benz du Togo returns with Sé Nam (Komos),an irresistibly funky exploration of local vocal harmonies intertwined with synth melodies and driving bass lines peaking at dancefloor hits like Fovi. Meanwhile, Peruvian indigenous group Wampís of Guayabal, alongside Brighton producer Aboutface, unveil their debut album filled with immersive electronic soundscapes combined with field recordings titled Los Bosquesinos (Coordinates). This project features ancient chants paired with emotive melodies that evoke urgency while all proceeds are directed towards combating deforestation efforts within wampís territories across the Amazon rainforest region. Additionally,Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Grecia albán’s aNubes Selva(Folkalist), skillfully merges folk traditions enriched by electronic production elements creating inspiring variations reflective of South American musical heritage.