Award winning Afro-pop band “Freshly Ground ” is back on the music scene with a fresh new album called “Radio Africa”,which was released on May 1st.The seven member band which hails from various Southern African countries including South Africa,Mozambique and Zimbabwe are currently on a global tour promoting their latest offering,which they describe as “more raw,more african and cohesive..”.
From the sound of their first single “Fire is Low” one can sense that there is less of a pop sound ,which the band says was intentional.This new direction is very different from their previous offerings Ma Cherie and Nomvula;the latter which contained “Doo -bee -doo”the hit that introduced them onto the music scene and led them to win an MTV “Best African Award” in 2006.
“Our albums have been quite eclectic .Do be doo was so big ,and we almost never put it on the record.Nobody in the band felt that it was a turning point ,which is was” said drum player Peter Cohen.The themes of love and relationships are present in the songs “The Dream of Love” and “Would you Mind” ,which chronicles the uneasiness of relationships.Politics are also referenced in the song “Big Man” which highlights the increase of consumerism and material pollution.
Fans seem to embrace the new sound ,as in only two weeks,10,00 albums have been sold.In addition ,their “Waka Waka” song with Colombian artist Shakira has been picked up as the official world cup song beating out K’naans “Waving Flag” and Akons “Oh Africa”.The lead singer Zolani Mahola has also been confirmed to judge the new season of South African Idols .
With gigs at various African Festivals in Switzeland,Germany,France ,Swaziland and South Africa,the band has prooven that they make music that appeals to an international audience.No dates have been set for the US yet ,although they did perform in Washington DC and Brooklyn last summer.
Fans have embraced the bands new sound and showed their support by purchasing 10,000 albums in two weeks .