Netsayi

Singer-songwriter Netsayi has been hailed as Zimbabwe's ‘Queen of Afrofolk’ (The Daily News). Arriving in the UK with the new millennium, Netsayi forged a reputation performing a cappella in London’s backstreet, singer-songwriter clubs. After her self-produced demo landed on the desk of BBC Radio DJ Trevor Nelson, she went on to receive widespread acclaim from the UK press for her two albums, 'Chimurenga Soul' and 'Monkey’s Wedding', which Mojo magazine hailed as ‘refreshingly, startlingly excellent’. 'Chimurenga Soul' is one of Songlines Magazine's 10 essential Zimbabwean Albums!

After a 40-date UK tour supporting Grammy-winning legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Netsayi returned home to Harare in 2010, where she put together the band Black Pressure, which is made up of Ray Mupfumira (tenor/soprano marimba, mbira, bass, vocals), Humpfrey Domboka (baritone marimba, electric guitar, vocals) and T. Bright Chisvo (drums, ngoma, vocals).

In 2012 Netsayi & Black Pressure were spotted by American composer and artistic director, Paola Prestini, at HIFA and invitations to the US followed. Multiple visits to New York between 2013 and 2016 saw the group play well-received shows in front of some of the East coast’s most discerning audiences. These included shows on NPR, at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Celebrate Brooklyn Prospect Park and Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA) .

Netsayi's new set reveals all her familiar wit and poetry, with flashes of brilliance from musicians who rework the traditional sounds of Zimbabwe to dramatic effect. 'Things Fall Together’ is both a nostalgic reflection on the past and a hopeful glimpse of possible futures. By mixing new and traditional music, Netsayi unpick's Zimbabwe's emotional heart and quietly meditates on what makes us unique.

https://www.songlines.co.uk/explore/guides-and-lists/essential-10/zimbab...