HOME FOR INSPIRATION: TAWIAH’S ACCRA REUNION

Stopping traffic in Downtown Accra

by MOLLY SULLIVAN | photos by ABASS ISMAIL and MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE

A year after her first Skype Talk Party Series experience, TAWIAH’s much anticipated return to Accra proved to be well worth the wait.

An intimate evening with the Ghanaian British singer/songwriter began with an open Q&A, where questions sprung out about her creative process and the musicians that influenced her at ages 8, 16, 24, and now (her list included gospel, Wu-tang Clan, Erykah Badu, Radiohead, Me’shell Ndegeocello, the Spice Girls, and her own stuff)

Posing with a thrift store owner in Downtown Accra

Accompanied by Tawiah’s commentary, we screened music videos from FREEdom DROP, her illmatic mixtape released last March. Videos for  “TearDROP”, “FACes”, and “SEAlion”– all teased the crowd into stunned silence. Tawiah shared with us the inspiration for these songs, the vision behind the videos, and amusing anecdotes from her creation process. She discussed the decision to set the music video for “FACes” in Accra, the choice to deviate from the standard song structure with “SEAlion”, and her inability to sink during the filming of “TearDROP”.

Posting up outside a clothing stall in Northridge

The evening concluded with a chillingly beautiful, live performance. Tawiah, poised for utter destruction, propped up her guitar on a knee, a loop station beneath her feet. There was a noticeable shift in the room when Tawiah began to sing – a collective leaning in of bodies gravitating towards the perfect plethora of sound making. The set included two new songs from a forthcoming album this year. Upon much pleading from the audience, Tawiah consented to perform again, this time with a slow jam remix of Soul for Real’s ’95 classic, “Candy Rain”.

Luckily, amidst the praise and congratulations from fans that followed, we were able to pull Tawiah aside for some final questions about the reception to FREEdom DROP, her two week visit in Ghana, and what to expect next from the musician.

2/28: TAWIAH x The Talk Party Series

Meet us at Friday’s Talk Party, 6:30 – 9:30pm

Last February, we held a special Talk Party Series with Ghanaian-British singer and songwriter, TAWIAH. At that time she had just wrapped production on her much-feened for mixtape, FREEdom DROP, and we gave the Accra fans a rare premiere before the rest of the world heard it. We also got a chance to rap with Tawiah via Skype and were even privy to an intimate live performance.

For those of us who saw Tawiah tear the stage apart at IND!E FUSE 2012, we have been patiently waiting to resurrect the magic of that night’s performance. Well wait no more, Accra city people. Tawiah’s back in the building and she will be representing at this Friday, Feb. 28th’s Talk Party. Tawiah will share a bit of her audiovisual exploration with us plus you’ll get to ask her all the questions you want. We also get a chance to hear some of her new material.

BLITZ THE AMBASSADOR HAS ACCRA CITY DREAMING AGAIN

Blitz takes in all the #Accra love

Going in red and deep. Blitz Taking it all in- #AfropolitanDreams concert #Accra 

In the shadows. #AfropolitanDreams comncert

Afrobeat/Jazz lengend Gyedu Blay Ambolley brought his illest Sax game to the jam. #AfropolitanDreams concert #Accra

Jamming with the drummer Syd- Embassy MVMT. #Accra

THE TALK PARTY SERIES is Back Fri. Nov 29th

THE FOKN BOIS are one of the headliners for IND!E FUSE 2013 | photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

The Talk Party Series is back this Friday, November 29th, 2013. We are meeting up at Passions Premium Restaurant in Osu Ring way [two streets behind Country Kitchen and one street behind Pippa’s Gym] from 6:30-9:30pm. Join us for a pre-jam get together for the 4th Annual IND!E FUSE, December 12 – 14, 2013.

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AFRICAN ELECTRONIC MUSIC has become a mutant creature that is changing and adapting into spaces unheard of until a few years back. Ghanaian music producers and DJs have created a pop culture stock exchange with the players looking to be crowned kings and queens.

In Ghana, azonto – in all its hybridity – has risen to the top of the African electronic music scene and reinvented the “Ghana sound” for an increasingly beat-hungry audience. This month’s TALK PARTY will host the artists who have created their own brands of live-electro music from their bedrooms to the streets of Accra.

We toast The Alchemists who have established local and international scenes with their own homegrown genres. Come and party with the artists and creators performing at this year’s edition of IND!E FUSE and find out all you need to know about the December show.

Screening : EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP [2010]
The story of an obsession with street art that leads to a surprising adventure. Thierry Guetta, aka Mr. Brainwash, is an eccentric French shopkeeper and amateur filmmaker who journeys to locate and befriend internationally acclaimed and anonymous street artist, Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most famous graffiti artists at work.

DJ live session | Ice cold drinks on tap | Delicious food | Meet and Greet with cool folk!

Come out this Friday and Jam with us. #free

The TALK PARTY SERIES is Back Oct. 25th

We are back this Friday, October 25th with a special Talk Party Series.

Chale, we’re on a high – right on the heels of finishing the 3rd annual CHALE WOTE Street Art Festival and getting ready for the megamusic fest – the 4th annual IND!E FUSE on December 12-14th, 2013.

Art events are buzzing all across the capital city and we’re excited to be a part of the transition. Join us as we brainstorm more ideas on how to sustain Accra as an art-active city. How are you contributing to the shift? Let us know.

We are also screening a remarkable documentary – Hip Hop: The New World Order – and following the film we will have a Q+A with the director, Muhammida El Muhajir, who’s taking the film on a world tour. We’ll also rap with a few Accra-based creatives [Kobby Graham, Ato Annan and Meche Korrect, just to name a few] who have a thing or two to say about how art and music can make movements.

Here’s a little taste of what the film’s all about:

“The documentary, Hip Hop: The New World Order, affirms Hip Hop culture as a powerful vehicle for self-expression by youth around the world. Shot in 8 international cities (Tokyo, Havana, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro & Johannesburg) over a span of 3 years (1998-2000), the project embarks on the groundbreaking mission to unearth the practice and business of Hip Hop culture worldwide.”

Ice cold drinks on tap. Cool folks chillin. Live music + jam session with DJ KEYZZZ. #free

See you there!

The TALK PARTY SERIES
Friday, October 25, 2013
6:00 – 9:30PM
Passions Premium Restaurant
Osu Ring Way, Accra
*2 streets behind Country Kitchen and 1 street behind Pippa’s Gym; orange building with driveway and kebab stand in front across from a children’s nursery.

The TALK PARTY SERIES

Come out to the TALK PARTY SERIES tonite as we celebrate TAWIAH’s new mixtape “FREEDOM DROP” with a listening session. We will also be premiering her second single, “FACES” – directed by Mantse Aryeequaye, produced by REDD Kat Pictures + ACCRA [dot] ALT.

TAWIAH wants to know what you think about her new album and video! We’ll have a Skype call session with the singer/songwriter in London and you’ll have a chance to share your thoughts.

As lovers of good music, the party wouldn’t be complete without the DUSTLYVE Booth’s Kobby Graham + DJ Kev keeping buttorses shaking on the dance floor all night. So come out and let’s get live together.

We’re collecting books to support the Community Creative Center. Be kind and bring a book to donate for this worthy cause.

ACCRA STREET STYLE Mixtape No. 4

We got style for days. Trust! Check out these natty gentlemen doing the damn thang at our 2012 Talk Party closeout in Osu.

Photos by Molly Lambe for ACCRA [dot] ALT.

DELASI

ATO ANNAN

NANA B’S MOJO