THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “W.I.T.C.H. were the first band in Zambia to release a commercial album — 1973’s Introduction. Blending the rock ’n’ roll of The Rolling Stones together with more traditional, African rhythms, they pioneered a new genre dubbed Zamrock, and during their brief, yet prolific existence, W.I.T.C.H. (an acronym for We Intend To Cause Havoc) released seven albums and were the most revered band in their country.
After the mid-1980s, the band faded into obscurity and stopped playing live until 2012. But now W.I.T.C.H. are back — and have just released their eighth studio album (and first release in a generation) Zango. Here, bandleader Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda is joined by Patrick Mwondela on keys, Nico Mauskoviç on drums and percussion, Stefan Lilov and JJ Whitefield on guitars, and Jacco Gardner on bass. The latter is also credited with producing the album alongside the band. The album features collaborations with Keith Kabwe (Amanaz), Theresa Ng’ambi, Hanna Tembo and Sampa The Great.
Recorded in DB Studios, the same setting in Zambia where the band’s sensational 1975 album Lazy Bones was made some 46 years prior, Zango tells the story of the band’s phoenix-like rebirth into its current supergroup-like state. The album is full of international and inter-generational collaborations that chart musical histories from Zambia and beyond.”
