Djuma Soundsystem knows to grab inspiration when you can find it.
The Norwegian producer is forever moving, his calling card of 'Les Djinns' representing just one stop on an ongoing journey.
Now settled in Denmark, Djuma Soundsystem quite literally stumbled across King Ayisoba one evening. Inviting the Ghanaian musician into the studio, what emerged is remarkable for both artists' catalogues.
"I first met King Aiyasoba on the beach in Copenhagen five years back, when he was on tour," the producer tells Clash. "He was walking around with his home made two string instrument called kologo, and he sang the loudest I've ever heard. He didn't want any money or anything, just to spread the joy of music. I later realized that King don't walk a single meter without playing. He is music, and music is him, in the same way that he is his instrument, and the kologo is him."
"I so was captivated by him that I insisted that he should come to my studio at some point, to see if we could work on something together. He came over, dressed in traditional Ghana clothes with home made rubber sandles made from car tires. I've never met anyone being so humble and at the same time having so much authority. I played some different beats for him. He said he never heard this type of music before, and asked me what it was. 'It is called house music', I replied. He seemed interested, but a bit sceptic."
It seems that the African musician's scepticism soon evaporated. "When I played the beats for 'Anyimu' his face lit up, and he said 'that one!', with no doubt in his voice. He asked me what he should sing about, which I didn't have any answer to. He asked me if he could borrow my phone, if he promised to make it quick. I gave him my phone, and he spoke in some language I never heard before. Afterwards he explained to me in pretty broken English that he called the oldest and wisest man in his tribe, in his village back home on the countryside in Ghana. Now he knew what to sing about. 'Play the track!' I did. He hummed a bit. 'Do you need some rehearsals', I asked. 'No need!' He went into the song box, and took it all in one take."
"First his kologo, then the main voice, then his own over dubs (which sounds like female voices). I got the freedom to fiddle around with it with my friend Yann, and we pitched his voice down a bit, to make it darker, and ended up with not using his kologo on this track. We've recorded other tracks with him later on, so there will be a chance to hear his kologo some time in the future. 'Anyimu' is just the start of this collaboration. One I'm very proud and happy about."
Check out 'Anyimo' below.
Order 'Anyimo' HERE.
