Musical collective Monoswezi has announced the release of a new album titled “Shanu” (Riverboat Records), scheduled for release in October 2021. “Shanu” will feature new electronic elements.
Shanu means ‘Five’ in the Shona language of Zimbabwe, home to Monoswezi’s lead vocalist and mbira player Hope Masike. “Shanu”, the band’s fifth album, is their most exploratory to date, as it sees them incorporate a more electronic approach to their musical soundscape. Key to this is the use of the Mellotron by composer and multi-instrumentalist Hallvard Godal. In Hallvard’s own words, “I had played the Indian harmonium on some previous tours and the album A Je but was now looking for something more flexible, less characteristic, whilst still keeping some of the acoustic feeling, and the Mellotron had that.”
The name Monoswezi is a combination of the four founding member’s nationalities represented in their line-up – Mozambique (Mo), Norway (No), Sweden (Swe), Zimbabwe (Zi). Band members live across three countries (Norway, Sweden and Zimbabwe).
African music remains central to Monoswezi’s inspiration. Their compositional approach draws on Hope Masike’s Zimbabwean and Calu Tsemane’s Mozambican musical heritage alongside the rest of the band’s Nordic jazz edge. The role of the Zimbabwean mbira is essential to Monoswezi’s style.
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Author: World Music Central News Room
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