Esa Williams- Esa Presents Amandla: Music To The People
Artwork Esa Presents Amandla: Music to The People
The record Esa Presents Amandla: Music To The People is one which my brother and I randomly picked from the presentation shelf in our hometown Vinylstore Optimal Records. Its description and cover evoked our interest- plus for a change picking a record in the dark, not knowing what is hidden behind it, is a great way to reach out of the box not getting and broadening one’s musical horizon.
This album is a compilation of some really great tracks selected by the DJ Esa Williams who is based in London. Not only have those tracks been featured heavily in his DJ sets, they also represent his musical journey and the people he connected with over his life and career. The basis of his approach to curate this compilation was to emphasise on his musical roots of the genre kwaito. Kwaito has its origins in South Africa where Esa grew up. It emerged in Johannesburg during the end of apartheid in the 1990s, when the country was readying itself for a newfound freedom. Thus, the track “Amandla, Awethu”, meaning “the power is ours”, presents a significant and invigorative chant of that crucial development. Music is and was a powerful tool to connect and form integrity among the people. Kwaito was formed, marked with the use of Southern African sounds, percussive loop samples, a deep bass and vocal lines that are either sung, rapped or shouted. The second track Accuse (meaning “Instrumental”) by the group Alaska was also produced in that essential era. To Esa it is “one of the most iconic kwaito groups” (…) and “played a massive role in how this sound mobilized young South Africans, calling for celebration after our horribly oppressed past.”
In compiling songs, Esa not only wanted to share tracks enigmatic of his roots, but also those he encountered while visiting various parts of the world s a DJ which subsequently embossed his musical background:
For instance, Lague Yo (Boulo Edit) by Pascal Latour shows Esa influences by Brazilian Zouk Dance Music. Zouk had its origins in the French Antilles, thus was played in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Dominica, and Haiti. It is characterized though Antillean Creole language, electronic synthesizers, a percussion-driven rhythm and supported by loud horn sections. The track sounds incredibly lively and funky, which will instantly make you want to move your hips. It contains a really well composed bass line in the background and a great Creole chorus.
Another highlight, Cheeks by Narchbeats is a South African techno track. To the ones who enjoy listening to techno music, the song will sound very unique and innovative, mixing kwaito music with techno: Its sawtooth bassline, its catchy beat loops and its perfectly dark sound aesthetic.
Predominantly Esa Williams enables us to get insights of music that for most in Europe is relatively hard to get acquainted with. Considering the nature of our listening behavior in 2021: In particular because of Spotify’s target, bringing us merely close to music which is similar to the one we already listen to. As a result we tend to listen to music, the type of which is already within our reach. To me this consequently narrows down the interactions between cultures and also the potential of musical developments across border. Esa gives us that opportunity, as he is someone who is very well versed within his cultural and musical roots and through his professional experience. But more importantly these insights enable us to witness that any genre can get transformed and adapted to any cultural background. This makes it ever so clear that crossing over genres and cultures make musical creativity and its possibilities limitless. In a sense it is a very powerful way to overcome cultural borders.
Esa Presents Amandla: Music to The People
