It is known that the second (or third) best song off of the Very Best's newest album, Warm Heart of Africa, is "Julia" (taking a back seat to "Chalo" or the title track.) Newly-established Brooklyn-based-duo Javelin, decided to take this song, which speaks of love loss and heart break (we don't speak Chichewa., Esau told us) making it more...well...Brooklyn-ized. A beat once established by Radioclits' electro-synths, is now driven by vamped, sped up, hard-riffing guitars. An interesting take on a great song.
We don't have to go on any more about our love for The Very Best. Today, Fader posted the premire of their new mp3 "Rain Dance" featuring MIA. The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit) worked with Diplo and MIA on their widely praised mixtape, so it's no surprise that MIA makes an appearance on newest record The Warm Heart of Africa coming out October 3rd on Green Owl. You can preorder it now on iTunes. This track killed live and does so on the record. It's less "happy", let's say, than the other more joyful tunes on the record, yet it drives with dark pulsing beats and an incredible plethora of samples that add to the dense mix.
"They told me, 'people in New York don't dance.' People need to dance," Esau Mwamwaya said, speaking of his recent performance at Manhattan's Le Poisson Rouge. Dance they did, much to Mwamwaya's enjoyment.
Describing himself as a naturally happy and loving person, Mwamwaya reflects on the fact that most from his native Malawi in central African tend to be as well. "If we love one another and build strong relationships, then some of these things won't happen..." Mwamwaya said in regard to the social unrest and impoverishment of some in his homeland. "There are people out there suffering and they need to be loved."
The Very Best, comprised of frontmanMwamwaya and Radioclit a.k.a Etienne Tron and Johan Karlberg, are an unlikely, pseudonym-heavy, musical combination. After releasing their free Mix Tape in 2008 featuring Karlberg's previously-established Rolodex of artist contacts including MIA, Santigold, Ezra Koenig (Vampire Weekend) and more, the indie world began to take notice.
Hear more from The Very Best including thoughts on the new track "Chalo," Ezra Koenig and a bit of heart break after the jump. If you are curious as to how a central-African-born drummer became an underground hip-hop sensation, track back to London some years ago. Running a bicycle shop at the time, Mwamwaya crossed paths with Karlberg multiple times before striking up a conversation. "Johan [Karlberg] would cut through my shop, buy stuff...one day he asked if I was doing anything...I told him I was a drummer and he was happy to hear that," Mwamwayaremembers. Soon, Karlberg introduced Mwamwaya to Tron and his production studio giving birth to The Very Best. Sometime thereafter, the newly-formed trio realized the vocal abilities of Mwamwaya and recorded their first track together "Chalo" which is a keynote track on the groups newest record, Warm Heart of Africa, releasing this fall on Green Owl.
"Chalo" as described by Mwamwaya, is "a positive and negative song." "It is about war and starvation, but also about love," Mwamwaya said. Feeling that love is the only foundation that can keep people together, Mwamwayatrys to impart that feeling through his musical performances.
It was this loving life outlook that, after an introduction through Karlberg, initially drew Mwamwaya to Vampire Weekend's Koenig -- "we have a relationship that is more than just music...we hang together," Mwamwaya said. Koenig is featured on the title track of the upcoming Warm Heart of Africa release.
Another fantastic track from the new record is "Julia," a song sung in Mwamwaya's native language of Chichewa. It is assumed that domestic audiences don't understand the lyrics of most, if not all of The Very Best's tracks; therefore, it is interesting to note that even a joyous sounding song, can really be about heartbreak. "Julia" Mwamaway notes, is about "falling in love...you know love is so precious...like an egg, it is easy to break...you need to be careful and handle [gently]."
It is this passion for love, peace, harmony, songwriting, spreading of joy and general betterment of the world, that draws most to The Very Best. Though you may not understand the lyrics, this music makes you feel good about where you are, what you are doing and yeah, that fist that is pumping hard and high in the air.
It's true that many bloggers typically don't dance, unless there is enough free alcohol or promisscuousness to warrant such a thing. Well, at Le Poisson Rouge Saturday night, there was a little bit of both, coupled with beacons of happiness that was frontman, Esau Mwamawaya's on-stage demeanor and Radioclit's electro-jams.
We danced. Sometimes we marched. Sometimes, we gyrated without bringing our feet off the ground in cemented-dancing goodness. Regardless, we found ourselves entranced by the tropical rhythms, onesie unitards worn by accompanying dancers, and the house bass jiggling our gens and pumping our chests.
Esau puts a smile on your face; hopping around waving his arms, the Malawian born African-rapper is nothing short of extroverted projecting all things musically right with the world upon his listeners. The show was equal parts, Mix Tape (which he offered for free last year) and songs from his up-coming release, Warm Heart of Africa, coming out this fall on Green Owl.
Performing crowd pleasing hits such as, the remix of MIA's "Paper Planes" titled ,"Tengazako" and "Kamphopop," Esau also dropped some new tracks, which were our favorites of the night. "Julia," our song of the month -- "Chalo," and the title track "Warm Heart of Africa (feat. Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekend)" were included in the nights performance. **Yes, Ezra Koenig came out and sang -- indie-goodness in the raw. See video after the jump.
There is nothing more we can say about the Very Best other than it would be the very worst for you to not go extremely out of your way to catch this amazingly spontaneous, at times comical, and heartwarming music live.
Check out The Very Best and Ezra Koenig's "Warm Heart of Africa" live from this show after the jump!
