Techno Africa, the new release of the Ghanaian DJ-producer Caterpillar on the English label Club One is the perfect illustration of the movement that is stirring the current electronic scene: a series of frenetic digital back and forth between London and the pan-African electronic underground. Exclusive presentations and listening.
« Katapila is one of the artists with whom we have wanted to work for a very long time. “Enthuses Tash LC, the owner of Club Yeke, a turbulent English record company founded in 2019, which hosts Jumping Back Slash, Kouslin or Kush Arora, among others. ” The quality of its instrumentation, its vocal parts and its incredible kicks give it an incredible sound, somewhere between the European techno scene and the heart of the Ghanaian musical soul. »
True godfather of the Accra scene for more than a quarter of a century, Ishmael ‘DJ Katapila’ Abbey officiates without complex on the local dancefloors, during funerals or weddings: “they call me Katapila (Caterpillar or caterpillars in French, Editor’s note) because I am like a machine. I clear and lay roads,” Ishmael told us. The pioneer is on a mission: “ to educate, you have to entertain. Here in Accra, my music uplifts, dances, but it also uplifts people. This is the reason why here, the youth massively follows my work. » A public now extended to Europe: « in Ghana, we don’t really go to discotheques like in Europe. In England we dance in closed places, even large gatherings such as festivals remain contained, closed events. Here in Accra, music is experienced in the streets, in the open air, at parties or large spontaneous gatherings. »
Although it has been refined and structured through its round trips to Europe, the sound material distilled by Katapila remains irrepressible, impulsive: ” In Ghana, we want hot songs ! “laughs the producer. ” The idea is to play fast, so we mistreat the pitch. This is our vision of techno. But African Techno, hence the title of this new project! »
DJ Katapila, Techno Africareleased on September 9, 2022 by Club Yeke Records. Impeccably maintained young record company, Club One entrusts all his artwork to the creative studio Mumptown.
