The fourth volume of the Digital Indigenous series highlights the work of Malawi talent DJ Kapwanthi, gathering his beat-style, high-energy sound in a 7-track opus, available April 4th.
Honoring African trailblazers in the eastern countries of Malawi and Tanzania, the diggers at 100Hz have once again shed light on an outstanding talent in the latest installment of their Digital Indigenous series. In 2020, the Polish label debuted its exploration with Andy One and his 7-track Imba Africa. Releasing a profound, multifaceted project tackling religion, loneliness, and unity, this producer and songwriter did so on a soundtrack of traditional Ngoni and Tumbuka rhythms, reggae, hip-hop, and afropop. For the second volume – and its euphoric PAM Club -, Lomwe native DJ Kainga blended local sounds with electro and dancehall influences. Coming next, multi-talented creative Happy Mphanda gave an emotional performance. His family-made (Happy’s band is composed of his brothers and cousins) traditional and electronic hymns paid homage to his late younger brother Relke and celebrated his Ngoni community. Coming April 4th, the fourth volume now highlights fellow Lowme talent DJ Kapwanthi.
Sourcing, editing, and reimagining fragments of Malawian and African movies and videos, – in the way Nigerian cruise beat producers use memes – Kapwanthi uses other mediums to create upbeat, radio-ready, Whatsapp viral tunes like ‘MP4MP3’, ‘AVIMP3’ and ‘MOVMP3’. Pouring his creative flow onto FruityLoops, the DJ blends modernity with tradition and mixes Lowme rhythms and regional instruments, like the finger-plucking sansi. Beautiful tracks like ‘Wachitaya Chikond Changa’ (He Has Lost My Love) or ‘Kdikakwatile Kubala’ (I Will Get Married and Give Birth) use the local sounds to send deep poetic messages, for instance on gender roles in the Lowme community. Like its predecessor,this fourth opus encapsulates the essence of its producer’s community. Digital Indigenous 04: MP4MP3 recounts the vibrant rhythms and resilient joyfulness of the Lowme people, on their way to emancipation and better days ahead.
