Wayne's World International Series - January 2021
Wayne’s World - January 2021
Welcome to Wayne’s World! This is a new monthly feature put together by Manor team member Wayne spotlighting music made by not-Americans. Music made in the states is incredibly well represented abroad due to the prominence of our language, so sometimes we have to work a little harder to diversify the music we listen to. Here you can expect to find 3 albums made in any period anywhere around the globe!
We hope y’all enjoy!
W.I.T.C.H. - Lazy Bones!! (1973)
Zambian band W.I.T.C.H. (We Intend To Cause Havoc) was formed in 1973 with lead singer Emanuel “Jagari” Chanda who is considered “Zambia’s first rock star” by the BBC. Initially their music was inspired by British and American psych-rock, and their album “Lazy Bones!!” is a perfect example of this. In the late 70’s The price of copper, which the Zambian economy depended on fell dramatically coincided with rising governmental instability and curfews led to Jagari’s decision to quit the band and focus on his teaching. The band lived on to produce Disco and later Kalindula music before disbanding in the mid-80’s. In 2012 Jagari came to the US to bring W.I.T.C.H. back to life, and re-released most of their early music digitally and on vinyl. You can listen and purchase their music HERE on Bandcamp.
Carlo Onda - Darker Days EP (2020)
Carlo Onda is a post-punk/new wave musician living in Heerbrugg, Switzerland. His Darker Days EP from 2020 was written over the span of a weekend and is one of my favorite 2020 releases. When he recorded it, he only used samples from a digital metronome and a free synthesizer. According to Google Translate (I don’t speak German lol) his bandcamp says “the songs [in Darker Days] move in a very limited universe: insecurity, flight, questions of guilt, repression and confidence.” Very dark and danceable, this synthy collection of songs is sure to get your blood pumping and may even inspire some heavy eyeliner. Available on both Bandcamp and Spotify.
Chavela Vargas - La Luna Grande: Homenaje de Chávela Vargas a Federico García Lorca (2012)
Chavela Vargas was a female Ranchera singer in Mexico from the 1940’s-1970’s, and again from 1991 until her death in 2012. She was a gun-slinging, heavy-drinking lesbain who was incredibly unapologetic. During her comeback, she briefly lived in Madrid where she claimed to meet the ghost of famous gay poet Federico Garcia Lorca, in the form of a bird. She became good friends with the ghost, frequently staying up all night speaking with him. La Luna Grande, available HERE on spotify, is a collection of poems written by Lorca which she sings to the soft guitar of her own songs. This album rocked my world last year, being a collaboration of my all-time favorite musician and my all-time favorite poet. Definitely worth a deep listen, this album is gentle, devastating and irresistible.
Written by ::
Wayne Moots
Manor Blog Contributor & Co-Organizer.
Manor Records gives 100% of the article author rights to Wayne Moots.