Witch – Zango [YELLOW VINYL] – New LP

WITCH was the first band in Zambia to release a commercial album — 1973’s Introduction. Blending the rock and roll sounds of UK rock bands like The Rolling Stones, Cream, and The Beatles together with more traditional African rhythms, WITCH pioneered a new genre dubbed Zamrock, and during their brief yet prolific existence, WITCH (an acronym for We Intend To Cause Havoc) released 7 albums and were the most revered band in the country.

Zango is the band’s 8th studio album and the first release on Desert Daze Sound — a new Partisan imprint A&Red by the founder of the Desert Daze festival, Phil Pirrone. The album was recorded at the same studio where the original band's sensational 1975 album Lazy Bones had been made some 46 years prior: DB Studios. On Zango, Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda is joined by Patrick Mwondela on keys, Nico Mauskoviç on drums and percussion, Stefan Lilov on guitar, JJ Whitefield on guitar, and Jacco Gardner on bass, who is also credited with producing the album alongside WITCH. The album features collaborations with Keith Kabwe (Amanaz), Theresa Ng’ambi, Hanna Tembo, and Sampa The Great.

“‘Zango’ means ‘meeting place’,” Jagari explains. “Every village [in Zambia] will have this central place, where villagers meet to prepare for work, where youngsters go to learn, where the young ones learn from the elder folks, and where the visitors come and converge. It’s an institution, a place where people are welcomed, and where people come for research. It speaks to our band and its various backgrounds and countries. We are at our own meeting point with our music.

released June 2, 2023

WITCH is:
Emmanuel Jagari Chanda – Vocals
Patrick Mwondela – Keys & Synths
Jacco Gardner – Bass & Synths
Nico Mauskoviç – Drums & Percussion
JJ Whitefield – Guitar
Stefan Lilov – Guitar

GUESTS:
Keith Kabwe
Sampa The Great
Theresa Ng’ambi
Hanna Tembo
Jones Kabanga
K. Flint Mabuluki

ZANGO:
Recorded to 1” 8–Track Tape in DB Studios, Lusaka, Zambia
Engineered by Jasper Geluk, Michael Linyama, Peter Musungilo
Produced by Jacco Gardner
Co-Produced by Jasper Geluk & WITCH
Mixed by Jacco Gardner
Colored and Mastered by World of Paint Studios, Antwerp
Designed by Te Mata Studio
Artwork by Gabriela Maskrey
Band Photography by Sheldon Omar Abba
Artistic Director: Gio Arlotta

A1 By The Time You Realize Arranged By – Witch (3) Backing Vocals – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* Written-By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda*, Stefan Lilov A2 Waile Backing Vocals – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi Written-By, Arranged By, Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda*, Patrick Mwondela A3 Nshingilile Arranged By – Witch (3) Backing Vocals – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi Lyrics By, Vocals – Keith Kabwe Written-By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda*, Keith Kabwe A4 Streets Of Lusaka Arranged By – Witch (3) Written-By, Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* A5 Unimvwesha Shuga Drum [Skin] – K. Flint Mabuluki Keyboards [Additional] – Stefan Lilov Lyrics By, Vocals – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi Shaker, Cowbell – Nico Mauskovic* Written-By, Arranged By – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi, Witch (3) B1 Avalanche Of Love Arranged By – Witch (3) Drum [Skin] – K. Flint Mabuluki Lyrics By, Vocals – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda*, Sampa The Great Recorded By [Vocals] – Magnus "Mag44" Mando, Sammy Masta Written-By – JJ Whitefield* B2 Malango Arranged By – Witch (3) Lyrics By, Vocals – Hanna Tembo, Theresa N’Gambi Written-By – Stefan Lilov B3 Stop The Rot Lyrics By [Inspired] – Tolomeo Bwalya Shaker, Tambourine – K. Flint Mabuluki Written-By, Arranged By, Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* B4 These Eyes Of Mine Acoustic Guitar – Jones Kabanga Drum [Skin] – Keith Kabwe Lap Steel Guitar – Stefan Lilov Shaker, Wood Block – K. Flint Mabuluki Written-By, Arranged By, Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* B5 Message From W.I.T.C.H. Drum [Skin] – Stefan Lilov Lyrics By – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* Shaker – JJ Whitefield* Written-By, Arranged By – Witch (3) Recorded At – DB Studios, Lusaka Designed At – Te Mata Music Publishing Artwork By – Gabriela Maskrey Bass, Synth, Producer, Mixed By – Jacco Gardner Co-producer – Jasper Geluk, Witch (3) Directed By [Artistically] – Gio Arlotta* Drums, Percussion – Nico Mauskovic* Engineer – Jasper Geluk, Michael Linyama, Peter Musungilo Guitar – JJ Whitefield*, Stefan Lilov Keyboards, Synth – Patrick Mwondela Photography By [Band] – Sheldon Omar Abba Vocals – Emmanuel Jagari Chanda* Limited Edition on 'Zambian Full Moon' Yellow vinyl. Includes full color inner-sleeve with liner notes. Recorded live to tape at DB Studios which was equipped with the same machinery that recorded Lazy Bones in 1975 and brought back to life for the occasion for the first time in decades by Zamrock Engineer Peter Musungilo and his trusted partner Michael Linyama. This album is dedicated to Giovanni Arlotta for his determination, commitment and resourcefulness without which this album would have not been possible.