- ReleaseProduct
- WEMA
- Artist
- WEMA
- Label
- !K7 Records
- Catalogue Number
- K7403DD
- Release Date
- April 29, 2022
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Download
$9.99320 kbps, LAME-encoded
For WEMA, collaboration is a state of mind. The five-piece collective – consisting of Tanzanian multi-instrumentalist Msafiri Zawose, producer Photay and Penya members Magnus P.I, Lilli Elina and Jimmy le Messurier – is an artistic pursuit founded on community; a space in which to harness the transformative power of connection. Translated from Swahili, ‘wema’ means kindness and benevolence – virtues that lie at the core of the project, and are reflected in the group’s world-embracing approach to music. “WEMA is a state of gratitude and belief, without sorrow or grief. It’s about giving your entire heart,” Msafiri declares.
The self-titled album is an intoxicating, dancefloor-indebted blend of traditional Tanzanian music, Afro-Latin rhythms and experimental electronic music, with the majority of lyrics sung in Swahili and Spanish. It’s a smorgasbord of sounds, moods and textures that call on the very ethos of the band; the pursuit of cohesion and togetherness in a fractured world. Through this lens, WEMA is a near-spiritual listen, invoking the sacred sounds of their global influences. The tape-delayed vocal samples and sparse industrial clangs of Kande are reminiscent of the kind of deconstructed beats you might find in a closing club set. Bendir Bendir’s pointillist soundscapes are juxtaposed with a warm chorus of Msafiri’s layered harmonies. Msafiri Jam Pt 2, with its uptempo percussion and atmospheric background noise, features the undulating hornwork of groundbreaking Afro-Cuban trumpeter Yelfris Valdes. There’s a palpable optimism running through WEMA; it’s raw, unfiltered music that is as danceable as it is soul-stirring.
Digital Tracklist
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1
WEMA SONG
5:22
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WEMA SONG
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2
LUANJE PT. 1
4:46
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LUANJE PT. 1
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3
LUANJE PT. 2
4:06
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LUANJE PT. 2
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4
KIHEREHERE
3:50
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KIHEREHERE
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5
ZEZE
4:15
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ZEZE
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6
KIHEREHERE SLOW
5:13
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KIHEREHERE SLOW
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7
KANDE
3:27
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KANDE
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8
BENDIR BENDIR !
2:38
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BENDIR BENDIR !
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9
PEPOTE PT. 1
3:50
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PEPOTE PT. 1
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10
PEPOTE PT. 2
5:50
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PEPOTE PT. 2
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11
MSAFIRI JAM PT. 1
5:42
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MSAFIRI JAM PT. 1
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12
MSAFIRI JAM PT. 2
5:30
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MSAFIRI JAM PT. 2
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13
WEMA OUTRO
1:54
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WEMA OUTRO
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Track List: 2LP
A1: WEMA SONG
A2: LUANJE PT. 1
A3: LUANJE PT. 2
B1: KIHEREHERE
B2: ZEZE
B3: KIHEREHERE SLOW
C1: KANDE
C2: BENDIR BENDIR !
C4: PEPOTE PT. 1
C4: PEPOTE PT. 2
D1: MSAFIRI JAM PT. 1
D2: MSAFIRI JAM PT. 2
D3: WEMA OUTRO
Track List: CD
01: WEMA SONG
02: LUANJE PT. 1
03: LUANJE PT. 2
04: KIHEREHERE
05: ZEZE
06: KIHEREHERE SLOW
07: KANDE
08: BENDIR BENDIR !
09: PEPOTE PT. 1
10: PEPOTE PT. 2
11: MSAFIRI JAM PT. 1
12: MSAFIRI JAM PT. 2
13: WEMA OUTRO