Rwandance by Andi Otto

Shika Shika is proud to present “Rwandance” the third album by German multi-instrumentalist Andi Otto. Anyone that has had the opportunity to see Andi’s live performance knows about his talent as cellist and was no doubt blown away by his self-made device, the “Fello” – a sensor-extended cello bow.

“Rwandance” sees Andi move into new territory – born out of a meeting between Andi and Rwandan musician and dancer Evariste Karinganire, while collaborating for the music of dance piece Planet Kigali.

“The idea was to first listen to a music archive of songs and instrumental recordings of instruments from Rwanda. Then I tried to transform this material into my own sound. I was mesmerised from the very first moment when I heard this beautiful language: Kinyarwanda alongside these instruments like the Umuduri a percussive bow instrument, and rhythmical structures, like the 5/4 and 3/4 feelings which are the basis of many songs.”

Andi has a talent for using technology in a way that is touching and touchable, enticing out warm and organic tones from his machines. On “Rwandance” this sensibility enters into a perfect dialog and harmony with the traditional Rwandan rhythms. His break away from the traditional 4/4 structures of electronic music is not only refreshing but full of groove.

“Planet Kigali“ was premiered at Kampnagel in Hamburg at the end of 2018:

“Planet Kigali“ is about a bunch of time-travellers who come back from the future to our present year. They remember that there had still been borders and passports in 2019, a fine, utopian plot… and they represent a hypothesis of what aspects of Rwanda’s cultural tradition could look and sound like in 200 years. The time-warp makes it possible to shift the focus away from the topic of the country’s horrible genocide. Instead of investigating a post-traumatic society, the piece tries to jump ahead to the future and to the past simultaneously. Between old memories or recordings and our dreams, fears or expectations of the future.”
credits
released October 4, 2019

All production, synths, cello, harp and some percussions by Andi Otto.
Vocals by Evariste Karinganire (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4), percussions by Manuel Chittka (Track 4).
Artwork by Fabian Villasana.
The recordings with Evariste Karinganire were made possible thanks to Dorcy Rugamba, Jens Dietrich and Yolanda Gutiérrez during the production of the dance performance Planet Kigali.

c & p Shika Shika 2019
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