Sizzling vocals in a fresh and inspired together-blend of African Rhythms and the jazz culture.

11 MP3 Songs in this album (47:34) !
Related styles: World: African, Folk: Traditional Folk, Mood: Upbeat

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Details:
Hope Masike is a mbira player, percussionists, dancer, vocalist, songwriter, fashion designer, fine artist, advocate...! However, she is commonly known for her sizzling voice and mesmerising mbira playing.

Hope dresses the mbira in a new cloak. Her music is a together blend of different music styles including Jazz, Blues, Samba and Reggae. She has the most fascinating scatting licks and rhythmic vocal ornaments that compliment the sweet interlocking mbira melodies. Having fused her voice and mbira with, not only different music styles, but different and unconventional instruments, this inspirational songstress' music defies genre.

Masike started practicing music in 2006. She created an Afro-jazz band with friends guitarist Ben Kabasa, percussionist Dunmore Sengere, backing vocalist Tarisai Gweje and Hope on lead vocals. When two band members relocated to South Africa, the band fell apart. However, a determined Hope started yet another band.

In 2007, while she was still studying music at the Zimbabwe College of music, Hope met bassist Elisha Herema, recorder player Theresa Muteta, percussionist Blessed Rukweza, marimba player Songwe Limbikani. Hope was now playing mbira. (Currently Kakuwe comprises Elisha Herema on bass, Blessed Rukweza on African percussion, Maxwell Mbukuro on Marimba and Blessing Chimanga on Drums and marimba) Within the same year, she started a five-member band called Kakuwe with these musicians, two of whom were also her classmates at the music school. Together they recorded her debut album ´Hope´which was released in 2009.

´Hope´ was an honest and warm portrait of the highs and lows of life in her country. She dug deep into her roots to find her own sound as a reflection of life and her position in it. Hope's album celebrated every struggle and victory with music that inspires and revives the soul. Therefore, the album ´Hope´, a rare collectible.

In the following years, Hope thrilled music lovers and critics locally and regionally with her captivating presence, soon establishing herself as an artist of substance. Her music ventures have led her to tours and collaborations of note. She has performed at Harare International Festival of Arts and Chimanimani Arts Festival in Zimbabwe; Exit Festival in Serbia; Umoja Cultural Flying Carpet in Mozambique and South Africa; Ubuntu festival in The Netherlands; Stoppested Verden in Norway and many other venues. She has graced numerous cooperate functions and national functions in Zimbabwe. For over a year she has also made Tuesday nights special as a resident artist at Harare's Book Cafe on Tuesday nights.

Now based in Norway for a while, Masike is bringing the audience her tasty modern sound of mbira with her solo, acoustic acts. She is also collaborating with numerous artist from other countries, artists such as Norwegian composer and pianist Anniken Paulsen, Kora player from Senegal Ibou Cissokho, Mozambiqean dancer Sheila Massungue and Kenyan acrobatic Antony Maina. She is teaching African music at the Culture School of Fredrikstad.

She is scheduled to travel on tour to France, Untied States and Sweden in the summer of 2011. Look out for her second album due for release soon. She is working on the studio album in Netherlands and Norway.