TAWIAH on LOVE: The Cab Confessional

by Sionne Neely | photos by Mantse Aryeequaye + Abass Ismail for REDD Kat Pictures

TAWIAH on James Town Pier, Accra | photo by REDD Kat Pictures [Dec. 2012]

According to Ghanaian singer/songwriter TAWIAH, love is a beautiful complicated thing. Like music, love is made up of vibrational frequencies that wield magic into real life.

Old School Soul: DJ JULS Mixes Magic

by Sionne Neely | photos courtesy of DJ Juls

DJ JULS At Work

DJ JULS has been on the grind in 2013. It’s only April and the UK-based Ghanaian producer has dropped three mixtapes so far – the V-Day lovers joint, The Cupid Shot Mix [Feb. 14th], the dancehall fever anthems on Di Bubble Mix [March 11th] and the redhot follow-up to last summer’s Afrobeat fix, DJ Jul’s AfroBeat Mix Volume 2 [released this Monday, April 8th]. Over the last several years, Juls has worked with all the Ghana greats from FOKN BOIS [Wanlov the Kubolor x M3NSA] to E.L., Yaa Pono, Sarkodie, Efya, M.anifest and more.

The Big Fun Party We Had At IND!E FUSE 2012

FOKN Jam by OneFotos

story by Mantse Aryeequaye + Sionne Neely

IND!E FUSE 2012 was the most exciting, lavishly intense live show by any group of artists in Accra.  16 music acts participated – each creating their own version of an Accra indie monstrosity – dropkicking through live bass, synth harmonics and drum rhythms with menacingly cinematic vamps.

Approximately 1600 indie music fans jammed over the two day music event with headliners FOKN BOIS and Tawiah causing an almighty ruckus. In just two years, IND!E FUSE has quickly become the place for exposing music lovers to new and groundbreaking artists from Ghana, Africa and abroad.

SANKWAS BOIS

At the mainstage show, rapper duo and IND!E FUSE MCs, The Sankwas Bois [aka Mutombo da Poet and Simpol Tinz], STILL have people in stitches with their animated antics and raw, hilarious improvisation.

The DUSTLYVE Booth was in full effect for the first hour of the show – with Kobby Graham and DJ Kev spinning dopeness as the audience strolled in.

KOBBY GRAHAM | DJ KEV

DJ KEV SPINS

The F.O.K.N BOIS delivered their zombie apocalypse lyrics with a raw, funked-out fusion sound. As chaotic as their music may seem, in reality the duo are exceptionally tight and well-rehearsed which is crucial for pulling off their ingenuous shtick.

FOKN FLOSS

FOTO REWIND: INDIE FUSE 2012 [Day 2]

Take a peek at these cool visuals from the mainstage IND!E FUSE 2012 show at Alliance Francaise.

*Unmarked photos by Mantse Aryeequaye. All other images were captured by OneFotos.

The Ga Greek God’s Azonto

Mutombo da Poet’s Vibe

M3NSA | Simpol Tinz

Lady Jay’s Ha!

Paapa’s Song

Somewhere OUT There: Ghostpoet’s Gamut

by AIGERIM SAPAROVA

GHOSTPOET via The Guardian

Let it be known that Obaro Ejumiwe better known as Ghostpoet carries a power to hypnotize. This discovery was made whilst listening to the sounds of his debut album Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam, released back in February 2011.

Ghostpoet’s music weaves a mellow yet magnetic mumble-speak with the penetrating backdrop of beats, rhythms, and sounds to create his unique noise. His music speaks of the bare-bone reality of getting through life – falling in love, paying the rent, battling the fear of loneliness, and the melancholic tick of time.

Although born & raised a London boy, the down-to-earth artist traces his roots back to Nigeria and Dominica. He first made his mark on the UK music scene with the release of his first EP, The Sound of Strangers (2010).

GhostPoet 101: Here are three tracks that you’ll want to keep on loop.

INNIT? via The Tab Cambridge

BEHIND THE SCENES: IND!E FUSE 2012 Sound Check

EBEN’S HIP HOP

Peruse through our garden of IND!E FUSE 2012 images. One month later, folks are still chatting up the two-day December concert – including many a request for IND!E FUSE twice a year?!! Wow Fam.

Check out these behind-the-scenes photos of the artists and crew at sound check before the main stage show at Alliance Française that beautiful Saturday night in December.

All Photos Taken by ACCRA [dot] ALT.

SOUND CHECK 1-2, 1-2

DJ KEV | KOBBY GRAHAM | BADBOY STELOO

CRUSH ME FOR DEH FRONT

M3NSA | KOBBY GRAHAM

TAWIAH’S IN THE BLDG

TAWIAH | WANLOV

IND!E FUSE 2012: DAY 1 [PHOTO SELECTA]

HANDS UP.

If you were at IND!E FUSE 2012 this past weekend, then you know we had an INSANELY good time. Wow! Thanks Accra for coming out last Friday + Saturday and showing your support for independent African music.

We got photos from DAY 1 at The Republic Bar + Grill in Osu. We jam-packed the joint out with 500 people and more spilling onto the street. Our mashup boutique featured the Afro-electric sounds of supa dope DJs – Jason Kleatsh, Kweku Ananse, SanSe and DJ Kev with live performances by Rumor, Looney the TKR, Oga Chux, Steloo, Eli and Fatau Keita.

Our MASTA MC – Mawuli Fudoglo – kept everyone in stitches with his silly swag and funky boogie.

FUDOGLO + DJ KEV WARM IT UP

Like any good block party, the drinks keep pouring and bodies go on shaking. The sound system was a beast so folks couldn’t help but shake a leg. Thanks to the massive mojo of our DJs and live artists – the party kept climbing until 4am in the morning – leaving loads of people in sweaty honeysuckle bliss.

What a blast! Take a journey through our photo selecta of IND!E FUSE 2012: Day 1 right here. All photos taken by ACCRA [dot] ALT.

RED LIGHT SPECIAL

HALF OF A YELLOW SUN

IND!E FUSE 2012 Promo x TAWIAH

Peep @TawiahMusic‘s special IND!E FUSE shout out to you right here!

The 2-day live electro music mashup - IND!E FUSE began last night with massive sounds and late-night dancing at The Republic Bar + Grill. Stay tuned to see exclusive photos from the show. Then jam down with us TONIGHT at Alliance Francaise (7:30 -11pm, 10ghc).

18 amazing live music performers over two days…it’s the best bang for your cedi, chale.

IND!E FUSE 2012 Promo x YAA PONO

YAA PONO at IND!E FUSE, Dec. 2011 [photo by Francis Kokoroko]

Point blank, YAA PONO is a freestyle beast. His compelling storytelling, witty timing and delicious cadence makes this MC someone to check out.

He joins IND!E FUSE again after giving last year’s audience a small taste of what he can do. Yaa Pono’s dropping brand new material on the IND!E FUSE mainstage this Saturday, December 15th, 7:30 – 11:00pm, Alliance Francaise. You definitely want to be there for this!

Check out this small preview and see how the Uptown Energy Crew gets down. Tema, How Be?!

See YAA PONO live at IND!E FUSE 2012 | @TheRealYaaPono

IND!E FUSE 2012 Promo x LADY JAY

LADY JAY WAH [photo by Sefa Nkansa]

We’ve watched LADY JAY – the princess of Pidgen Music – hone her craft into a sweet honeycomb over the past year. With Sewor Okudzeto‘s A.R.T. [African Relaxation Techniques], Lady has been in the kitchen mixing and flipping it live at intimate spots and large-scale joints across Accra and West Africa [this past October she performed at Felabration in Lagos].

All too excited we are to see what she will throw down at IND!E FUSE this year. For a little taste of what you’ll see Saturday, check out Lady Jay letting go in this video:

 

See LADY JAY live at IND!E FUSE 2012 | @LadyJayWah