Zamrock pioneers WITCH return with the single “Queenless King,” the first release from their forthcoming album Sogolo, due June 13 via Partisan Records. The title, derived from a Zambian word meaning “future,” signals the band’s continued evolution nearly five decades after their initial rise.
WITCH mixes rock, psychedelia, funk, and Zamrock, a genre they helped define in the 1970s. Sogolo was recorded in Berlin during a 10-day tour break in 2024, produced by Jacco Gardner.
“Queenless King” was first demoed by frontman Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda and features a verse bass line by Gardner, with synth contributions from original member Patrick Mwondela. The track reflects on the consequences of ill-fated relationships, delivered with urgency and groove.
WITCH released seven albums between 1972 and 1984 before disbanding due to the AIDS epidemic, which claimed all founding members except Jagari. Their reissue series in 2012 sparked a global resurgence, culminating in the 2023 album Zango, international acclaim, and a widely screened documentary.
Sogolo continues this revival, echoing themes from their 1980 disco album Moving On while looking ahead. According to Mwondela, the album is “a reflection of new frontiers,” driven by the band’s enduring commitment to reinvention. Jagari adds, “Sogolo means future, full of hope, unity, and rhythm.”
WITCH will support the release with an extensive UK, EU, and North American tour.
Author: World Music Central News Room
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