W.I.T.C.H. talks about the elements that came together to form Zamrock in the 60s. They discuss how Zambia’s economic struggles, forced curfews as well as disco caused the band to stop playing in the 80s. Then they talk about how reissues of their albums in recent years, a documentary out about them, and their new album has allowed them to be rediscovered on an international scale, decades later.  

“We belonged to a federation,” frontman Jagari Chanda explains “That was Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Because of the federation, we did similar things in terms of social amenities and get togethers and it was like a crisscross pollination. People from different countries brought their own cultures and their own traditions. They brought their own dances, and this is where we got the traditional aspect of music. But the international influence came from the western world, from our colonial masters. They brought in the guitar, the jukeboxes, especially the radio.”   

W.I.T.C.H. talks about the elements that came together to form Zamrock in the 60s. They discuss how Zambia’s economic struggles, forced curfews as well as disco caused the band to stop playing in the 80s. Then they talk about how reissues of their albums in recent years, a documentary out about them, and their new album has allowed them to be rediscovered on an international scale, decades later.  
“We belonged to a federation,” frontman Jagari Chanda explains “That was Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Because of the federation, we did similar things in terms of social amenities and get togethers and it was like a crisscross pollination. People from different countries brought their own cultures and their own traditions. They brought their own dances, and this is where we got the traditional aspect of music. But the international influence came from the western world, from our colonial masters. They brought in the guitar, the jukeboxes, especially the radio.”

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

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