Johannesburg, 17 December 2021: Gallo Record Company’s new initiative, Gallo Remixed, has chosen four artists to work alongside Grammy-nominated producer and DJ, Black Coffee, by reimagining treasured African songs from Gallo’s catalogue for a new audience. Sun El Musician, Da Capo, Muzi, Mpho Sebina and Nobuhle all feature on the first Gallo Remixed EP, Music Is Forever, available to stream from the 17th of December across digital platforms.
After 95 years in the business, Gallo Record Company is the undisputed, longest-running independent recording label and music publisher in Africa, that also manages the largest catalogue of African music in the world.
Home to some of Africa’s most beloved music legends, including the incomparable Miriam Makeba, Grammy Award winners Ladysmith Black Mambazo, pioneering reggae legend Lucky Dube, and legendary Zimbabwean philanthropist, human rights and musician, Oliver Mtukudzi to name but a few, Gallo Records is now aiming to shine a spotlight on their iconic catalogue with Gallo Remixed.
At its core, Gallo Remixed has allowed Africa’s future music stars to pull classic songs from their rich archives and, under the watchful eye of executive producer, Black Coffee, given each song the remix treatment that has resulted in fresh takes on treasured fan favourites.
“Working with these young artists and watching them dive into Gallo’s rich archives, while trying to choose a track that resonates deeply with them, is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve had the pleasure of being involved in. Each one has done such an incredible job in paying homage to the original, while still putting their unique spin on the remix,” Black Coffee commented when questioned about working with a slew of young creatives.
The first full Gallo Remixed EP titled, Music Is Forever, serves as a striking and experimental offering, laying the foundation for the project to expand in the future, while re-introducing us to African songs we’ve grown to hold dear to our hearts.
Brenda Fassie’s “Too Late for Mama”, originally composed and written by Sello “Chicco” Twala in 1989, was chosen by Botswanan singer-songwriter Mpho Sebina, who paid homage to the legacy of the foundation of South African Afro-pop in her rendition.
In a rare and poignant combination of house and maskandi, self-taught producer and DJ Da Capo, joined forces with Maskandi legend Phuzekhemisi to remake “Imbizo”, and the result is a blend of textured indigenous sounds, fused with tribal ancestral vocal elements and drums that sounds a call to the dance floor.
Standing as one of the best-selling singles by a South African artist to date, Brenda Fassie and Chicco Twala’s smash hit “Vulindlela” has been reimagined by lauded Afrohouse producer Sun El Musician, and R&B songstress Nobuhle, with the duo delivering a refreshed Pan-African version with an all-encompassing production aesthetic, while staying true to the nostalgia of the original.
As one of the most celebrated jazz recordings from South Africa, Winston “Mankunku” Ngosi’s 1968 classic “Yakhal’Inkomo” inspired poems, artworks and countless thought-pieces, and was chosen by electronic DJ and producer Muzi to reimagine. Breaking out of his comfort zone and flexing his sampling skills, Muzi’s version is a funk-rooted one that revamps a jazz standard for a new audience.
Over these varied four tracks on Music Is Forever, Gallo Remix assert their musical authority by treating iconic African songs with an acute attention to detail on their remix and then offering them up to a brand new audience.
Music Is Forever releases on 17 December 2021, across global streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Youtube Music as well as Beatport and Traxsource for DJ’s.
Music Is Forever Link To All DSP Platforms
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Gallo Record Company:
Twitter: @GalloRecordsSA
Facebook: @gallorecordcompany
Instagram: @gallorecordcompany
Da Capo:
Twitter: @DaCapoSA
Facebook: Da Capo
Instagram: @DaCapoSA
Phuzekhemisi:
Facebook: Official Phuzekhemisi
Instagram: @Phezekhemisi_Mnyandu
Mpho Sebina:
Twitter: @Mpho_Sebina
Facebook:Mpho Sebina
Instagram: @mphosebina
Muzi:
Twitter: @muziou
Facebook: Muzi
Instagram: @mvziou