Each Wednesday, The World Africa presents three new musical releases from or inspired by the continent. This week, make way for electronic productions by artists inspired by their Angolan, Malagasy and Algerian roots.
« Off-White », de Vanyfox
It is now a tradition. Each year, the “Afrocentric” collective Moonshine, based in Montreal, publishes an album in which are presented the multiple inspirations and artists that can be heard during its monthly evenings. Released in early December SMS for Location vol. 5 brings together fifteen electro tracks oscillating between afrobeats, afrohouse, amapiano and batida. It is to this last style, which incorporates traditional Angolan rhythms with electronic sounds, that Vanyfox, 22, DJ and beatmaker evolving between Paris and Lisbon, is linked. His Off-White with a colorful clip is cut for the party and the dancefloor.
“Speech”, d’Insula
It is to the ternary rhythms of the maloya of his native island, Reunion, that producer Mickael Gravina alias “Insula” tackles in his album TRUMBA, published at the end of December 2022. This title refers to the word ” trumpet “, which designates the evil spirits invoked during ritual ceremonies in Madagascar. After a trip to the Big Island, the musician wanted to reconnect with his roots by creating this opus which, beyond the fusion between electro and tradition, is seen as an ode to Creole, mixing African and South American influences. and even Asians in a mystical utopia where trance is never far away.
“Trust” by Sabrina Bellaouel
It is also spirituality, but also “religion, astrology, romance, body and self-love” who inspired Sabrina Bellaouel, 34, for her album Al Hadr, to be released on March 3. The French singer and producer, born in Paris to Algerian parents and based in Bagneux (Hauts-de-Seine), offers an experimental but effective fusion of electro, neo-soul and R&B in which the culture of the clubbing and the Berber heritage of the young woman, who sings in English, French and Arabic. According to her label, Infiné, she recorded this opus “in his bathroom, with microphones hanging from the ceiling”.
Find all the editorial staff’s musical favorites in the YouTube playlist of the World Africa.