Switzerland based Zimbabwean jazz musician, Vee Mukarati is set to drop an EP this coming Saturday, August 22.
Titled ‘Vital Signs’, the six-track offering features soulful vocals, traditional Zimbabwean instruments, layered string arrangements, explosive instrumental solos and irregular-time signature grooves.
It explores the duality of the migrant experience. Looking at what it means to be an immigrant in a strange land, racial injustice, mortality and loss, and the power of hope.
“Vital Signs draws on the combined talents of jazz musicians based in Zimbabwe, Switzerland, Ireland, Italy and Canada,” said Vee.
“As a Zimbabwean artist now living in Europe, I’ve dreamed of creating a project that combined the two musical worlds that I inhabit. When I play in Zimbabwe and in Europe, my songs sound completely different – each group of musicians brings different things to the songs,” he added.
Faced with the impossibility of bringing together these different artists in a live setting, Mukarati began recording in Harare, Zimbabwe in late 2019.
But, three months into production, this ambitious undertaking was faced with the challenge of lockdown.
“In some ways the suspension of normal life gave me the time and space to focus all my energies on finding the perfect sound for the project.
“After nine months, hundreds of calls and audio file transfers, this EP is a testament to the unstoppable drive to create – and to how far home recording studios and do it yourself production techniques have come over the years,” revealed the saxophonist.
Mukarati highlighted that he is proud of what he and his team have achieved.
“I hope people will love listening to it as much as I loved creating it.”
Vital Signs will be available to stream on Spotify and all digital music platforms worldwide on 22 August 2020. You can purchase and download the EP and all of Vee Mukarati’s previous albums and singles on his official website: www.veemukarati.com .
