Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit, aka The Very Best, spent the last five weeks in Malawi where they put the finishing touches on their upcoming full-length and played their only live show of 2011. To keep us tied over ’til the album drop, the boys sent this remix of their Super Mom mixtape title-track. The reworked tune features Kinshasa’s sorcerer of words Baloji, who spits au francais while Radioclit loops the trumpet/synth chorus of the original into a celebratory jolt.
One is Malawian. One is Swedish. Together they are called The Very Best. A critically acclaimed debut album in 2009 ensured that the London-based outfit stays on their mission to “free African music of its touristic tones since the West took renewed interest in it in the 90′s.” With a remix album to their debut Warm Heart of Africa, due for release in September, the band is dead serious on pushing further ahead on their mission, and to stay true their name. OKA’s correspondent Daluxolo Moloantoa had the chance to chop it up with Johan Hugo, co-founder of the group.
OKA: How and when did The Very Best start?
JH: In 2006 Esau (Esau Mwamwaya) had a secondhand shop outside my house in London. Etienne (DJ Tron) from Radioclit (a production crew made up of Etienne and myself) was walking past his shop every day to get to our studio. One day he went into Esau’s shop to buy a bike. The same day he invited Esau to a party we were having that night. I met with Esau that night and we ended up talking about music a lot. He told me he was a drummer. I invited him to the studio, and we ended up recording him singing on a beat I had made that same day. I was instantly blown away by his incredible voice and we ended up working together from that day onwards.
Read More
If you didn’t already download the dopeness that is The Very Best‘s Mother’s day tribute mixtape Super Mom, you’ve been sleeping on some serious summer jams. Now we’re served up two fresh remixes from the project, with interpretations from tropical bass producer WILDLIFE! and the UK garage legend Wookie. In addition, The Very Best – compriesed of London-based Swedish producer Johan Hugo and Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya, have conceptualized and designed a limited edition t-shirt along with Invisible Children. “We wanted something that shows the strength of an African woman. It’s a continuation of the celebration of the Super Mom” says Johan Hugo. 100% of the proceeds (we think that’s pretty special!) of the shirt will go towards Invisible Children’s effort to end Africa’s longest running war in Uganda, where warlord Joseph Kony is abducting children and forcing them to fight as child soldiers. Make sure to support the cause and pick up a t-shirt RIGHT HERE.
The Very Best & Moroka – “Ndekha” (WILDLIFE! Remix):
The Very Best & Moroka – “Ndekha” (Wookie Remix):
For more FREE musics from The Very Best visit their soundcloud page.
MoMA is closing its exhibition, Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now, with a musical performance by Masauko Chipembere. Apartheid in South Africa restricted opportunities for many artists, but they refused to let racism confine their creativity. Instead, black artists discovered alternative outlets through which they could express themselves – art centers, studios, print workshops, integrated theaters, publications, supportive galleries, and underground workshops and cooperatives. Printmaking, which produced a transportable, inexpensive, flexible, creative and collaborative environment for artists, became the means through ideas were be shared and political opposition was manifested and expressed. The art exhibit is a collection of 80 prints including stencils, books and posters that tell the story of South Africa’s political struggle over the past fifty years. Visit the display and you’ll see works from artists like Kudzanai Chiurai, Bitterkomix, William Kentridge, John Muafangejo, Sandile Goje, Senzeni Marasela, Claudette Schreuders, Sue Williamson and Cameron Platter.
The 2011 MoMA Nights series, programmed by Olivier Conon, has an international focus, featuring musicians from Africa, Indonesia, China, and South America to name a few. Come out on Thursday August, 11th at 5:30pm to see a favorite, Masauko Chipembere – multi-talented singer-songwriter-guitarist from Malawi but born in LA (to activist parents in political exile) – he fuses African styles like marabi, mbira, marrabenta, mbaqanga, kwasa kswasa, and afrobeat with American influences like soul, jazz, funk, and hip-hop. Masauko has collaborated with Ladybug Megga (Digable Planets), RZA (Wu-Tang Clan), and Brian Jackson (former band leader of Gil Scott-Heron). He’ll be joined on stage with South African-Malawian friend, mentor, and songwriter Mongezi Ntaka, dancer Jamie Philbert, and singer Yolanda Sangweni. The artists will perform songs from Masauko’s upcoming album, Family Album, and pay tribute to anti-apartheid activist and songstress, Mariam Makeba. The show lasts until 8:30. While you’re enjoying some awesome tunes, grabs some drinks at the Sculpture Garden or food at Terrace 5.
Thanks to Eddie “STATS” over at The Fader’s Ghetto Palms (not to be confused with his other other blog), we get a full update on the amazing, the fantastic, The Very Best. Find out more about the beginnings of TVB including Radioclit‘s initial description of Esau Mwamwaya: “he’s like the African Phil Collins!” Also check out what Hugo (one half of Radioclit) has to say about the evolution of TVB, and where they are today, in an exclusive interview. Stats also puts us on to the release of a remix LP of The Very Best’s debut offering, Warm Heart of Africa (a staple OKA fave), available in the states today!
Listen + download “Yalira (Douster remix)” by The Very Best. Then head over to Ghetto Palms for the full scoop, including plenty of music.
After the release of the Super Mom Mixtape, The Very Best are at it again, curating zany African club tracks for their robust new mix for Fact Magazine. The mix features a slew of artists including Buraka Som Sistema, Bujo Mujo, Copia Doble Systema and of course original tracks from The Very Best. Check out “Africa to California Anthem” with Rusko feat. Vocal Slender & Afrikan Boy above, and listen to the mix in its entirety here. Tracklisting for the new mix is after the jump.
Get the Fact Mix by The Very Best right here.
The Very Best Remix Swedish Pop
The Very Best been bee-busy lately. Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit recently spent 5-weeks in Malawi, recording the new LP and playing the Lake of Stars festival. Soon as that was done, they hit us up with a “Super Mom (Remix)” featuring Congolose wordsmith Baloji. And now, a mere couple days later, they come at us with this remix of Swedish pop/electro group Den Svenska Björnstammen, one of their “favorite songs this year.” As most anything the duo touches, it jams. Listen to “Vart Jag Mig I Världen Vänder (The Very Best remix)” below.
Den Svenska Björnstammen – Vart Jag Mig I Världen Vänder (The Very Best remix) by The Very Best