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Mutima Band—an ensemble of musicians focused on playing smooth Afro styles, funk, reggae, jazz, and groove ballads—is currently on the cusp of launching their second album, Hold Me Close. Mutima released their debut album, Dream Of, in 2014, and have since been establishing a stronger roots-based sound while working on their second CD.
Mutima’s various musical styles reflect and express the two co-founders'—Wajipha Chongwe (lead singer) and Freddy Poncin (drummer)—diverse cultural backgrounds; the very word Mutima meaning ‘heart’ in Nyanja, one of the spoken languages in Zambia, Wajipha’s birthplace. The array of cultural, tribal, and national identities Wajipha was born into in Lusaka, Zambia, enhances her strength in songwriting, her bilingualism evident in the various verses appearing in Nyanja.
"Malasha Man" is one such song, consisting of a combination of both English and Nyanja, inspired by the Malasha Men of the Eastern Province of Zambia. The roots reggae track reflects themes of nature and the destruction it so often experiences from unsustainable and non-eco-friendly industries. This song can be found on Mutima’s upcoming album and has just been chosen for the Kiss My WAMI compilation CD for 2015. The second co-founder, Freddy Poncin, is a six-time WAMI award-winning percussionist and drummer, and is no stranger to the music industry. According to Drumscene Magazine in 2006 as well as 2014, he is considered to be one of Australia’s finest hand percussionists. Being born to an Indonesian mother and Dutch father, Freddy spent the first third of his life in Amsterdam, where he immersed himself in Afro reggae music, spending twelve years playing percussion and drums, touring Europe with one of the best bands of its genre in the Netherlands, Revelation Time. Living in Australia was no different; Freddy quickly dived into the music industry here, with the music for Mutima Band all being produced, recorded, and mixed by Freddy in his studio.
The band, consisting of Mario Horvat (Croatia) on bass, Mike Gowland (UK) on piano, Freddy Poncin (Holland) on drums and percussion, Mark Cain (AU) on saxophone, Adam Monk (AU) on percussion, and Wajipha Chongwe (Zambia) on lead vocals, is set to launch their second album, Hold Me Close, on the 21st of November. The featured song, "Malasha Man," is currently available on iTunes.
Mutima’s various musical styles reflect and express the two co-founders'—Wajipha Chongwe (lead singer) and Freddy Poncin (drummer)—diverse cultural backgrounds; the very word Mutima meaning ‘heart’ in Nyanja, one of the spoken languages in Zambia, Wajipha’s birthplace. The array of cultural, tribal, and national identities Wajipha was born into in Lusaka, Zambia, enhances her strength in songwriting, her bilingualism evident in the various verses appearing in Nyanja.
"Malasha Man" is one such song, consisting of a combination of both English and Nyanja, inspired by the Malasha Men of the Eastern Province of Zambia. The roots reggae track reflects themes of nature and the destruction it so often experiences from unsustainable and non-eco-friendly industries. This song can be found on Mutima’s upcoming album and has just been chosen for the Kiss My WAMI compilation CD for 2015. The second co-founder, Freddy Poncin, is a six-time WAMI award-winning percussionist and drummer, and is no stranger to the music industry. According to Drumscene Magazine in 2006 as well as 2014, he is considered to be one of Australia’s finest hand percussionists. Being born to an Indonesian mother and Dutch father, Freddy spent the first third of his life in Amsterdam, where he immersed himself in Afro reggae music, spending twelve years playing percussion and drums, touring Europe with one of the best bands of its genre in the Netherlands, Revelation Time. Living in Australia was no different; Freddy quickly dived into the music industry here, with the music for Mutima Band all being produced, recorded, and mixed by Freddy in his studio.
The band, consisting of Mario Horvat (Croatia) on bass, Mike Gowland (UK) on piano, Freddy Poncin (Holland) on drums and percussion, Mark Cain (AU) on saxophone, Adam Monk (AU) on percussion, and Wajipha Chongwe (Zambia) on lead vocals, is set to launch their second album, Hold Me Close, on the 21st of November. The featured song, "Malasha Man," is currently available on iTunes.
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