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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Africa Express Sound System
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 9 August 2011
Launched by Damon Albarn in 2006 to bring musicians from the UK and US together with others from Mali, Africa Express has been involved in various projects with an ever changing line-up since then. The group’s Africa Express Sound System offshoot brings DJs and VJs into the mix, teaming them up with live musicians to offer a more dance music focussed experience.
The Sound System will appear at the Standon Calling festival this weekend. We spoke to musical director and percussionist Remi Kabaka.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I was born into percussion. My father (also called Remi Kabaka) was a percussionist in Nigeria in the 60s and 70s and had a band with Tony Allen. I became involved with Africa Express because I loved the idea of being part of a platform for African Musicians to collaborate with peers from Europe.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Africa Express Sound System is performance based – we don’t record. You have to be there to see it! As far as what inspired the soundsystem, if you haven’t heard any township techno, Google it now! Producers like Spoek Mathambo and Mojave are doing some phenomenal things with old rhythms and new tech.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
We’re doing that now – we get in touch with the best African artists, vocalists, producers, instrumentalists and invite them to collaborate with us. Then we put a load of brilliance in a rehearsal studio, interpret some traditional African rhythms through modern tech sounds, and then the magic happens.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
It’s different every time but our set for Standon Calling is influenced by all of the fourteen artists contributing. Of course, they all have their own influences so you can imagine the diversity of sound going on. They include Fatoumata Diawarra, Baloji, Diabel Cissokho, Tor Cesay, Terri Walker, M3nsa.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Where’ve you been?!
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
Africa is the future.
MORE>> www.africaexpress.co.uk
