Malawian artists sing with Paul McCartney
Some Malawian artists have, through The Umoza Music project, collaborated with renowned English singer and songwriter Sir Paul McCartney in the lead single ‘Home’ off the album Home.
Available on CD, Vinyl and digital, the music features singers recorded from the banks of Lake Malawi collaborating with over a dozen United Kingdom (UK) musicians despite being separated by over 5,000 miles.
A statement says the digital single ‘Home’ was now available having been released on Friday on all international streaming services whereas the 12-track album will be released on May 20 with Vinyl records opened for pre-order in June.
In the track, the Malawian artists led by lead writer and singer Max Jere, sing in Chichewa with McCartney, a bassist for Beatles, playing his Hofner bass.
Based at Senga Bay in Salima District, Jere, using a recording studio built and paid for with the proceeds of their debut album in 2015, has Chakul Nyambo on harmonies and backing vocals, Anna Chiwalo, Eunice Matola, Chiyanjano Mayimba, Wisdom Mwamulima, Olive Pilolo and McPherson Simbota on backing vocals.
The statement says, in just the first 48 hours of release on streaming/download, the single was listened to over 60,000 times by people in over 100 countries.
“The song marks an unexpected collaboration for one of the most influential and successful musicians in the world and is the first time Paul has performed bass as a guest musician on an African language song. Paul recorded his contribution during lockdown at his home studio,” the statement reads.
“I have always loved African music so, when I was asked to do this, I jumped at the chance and ended up playing my Hofner bass on this cool song. It was great to collaborate with these excellent African musicians,” McCartney said.
John Tobin, founder and producer said: “Paul’s bass is really in the groove, perfect for the song and it is unmistakably his fingers on the fretboard of that legendary instrument. He helped create us a great track and lead single and it will bring these beautiful Malawian voices to the attention of many more music lovers around the world”.
Umoza project started in 2010 after a chance meeting between Tobin and Jere, who was born in Malawi but raised in the UK.
Tobin was rediscovering Malawi when he had the idea to find a local singer to improvise over an instrumental track he had recorded in his home studio.
Jere said collaborating with a legend was a great feeling.
“Paul McCartney is a well-known artist and very talented and working with him has motivated us,” he said.
