SONG OF THE DAY
“Bottom” by Zap Mama (Adventures in Afropea 1, Luaka Bop, 1993).
INTERESTING FACTS ( a la wikipedia)
– Zap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne.
– Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music. “What I would like to do is bring sounds from Africa and bring it to the Western world, because I know that through sound and through beats, that people discover a new culture, a new people, a new world.”
– Zap Mama specializes in polyphonic, harmonic music with a mixture of heavily infused African instruments, R&B, and Hip-hop and emphasizes voice in all their music. “The voice is an instrument itself,” says Daulne. “It’s the original instrument. The primary instrument. The most soulful instrument, the human voice.”
– They sing in French and English with deep African roots.
– Daulne defines her music over the years as evolving from an a cappella quintet to instruments and a lead voice. “I’m a nomad. I like to discover my sound with different instruments, different genres. For me it’s normal. My name is Zap Mama – it’s easy to understand that it’s easy for me to zap in from one instrument to another, a culture, a style. I’m more a citizen of the world, not an American or Belgian.”
– Zap Mama has released six full-length albums: Adventures in Afropea 1 (1993), Sabsylma (1994), Seven (1997), A Ma Zone (1999), Ancestry in Progress (2004), and Supermoon (2007). Their albums fall into three cycles.
– Notable collaborations:
- The Roots, This Kid Named Miles, Speech, and Manu Dibango are featured on the album A Ma Zone.
- Erykah Badu, Common and Talib Kweli, Scratch, Bahamadia and Lady Alma are featured on the album Ancestry in Progress.
- Tony Allen, Me’Shell NdegeOcello, David Gilmore, Michael Franti, and much more are featured on the album Supermoon.
- Zap Mama is a guest performer on the albums Chocolate Supa Highway, All Rebel Rockers and Stay Human by Michael Franti.
- Marie Daulne is featured on the track “Ferris Wheel” from Common’s 2002 album Electric Circus.
- Daulne recorded with Chanteuse Flight on a track called “Vibraphone”.
- Daulne is featured on the soundtrack to La Haine, a French film which she recorded with her brother Jean Louise Daulne.
- Zap Mama performs with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on the Ladysmith song “Hello My Baby” on the album Long Walk to Freedom.
- Zap Mama recorded a version of “Waters of March” on Sergio Mendes’ 2008 album Encanto.
- Contributed the song “Each Step Moves Us On” (with Speech) to the movie and CD What About Me? by 1 Giant Leap.