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  • Manifesto

    SP003

    Artist: Tidal Waves

    Label: Southern Pulse

    Tidal Waves write and perform original reggae music with traditional African music influences like Maskandi and Mbaqanga. The sound is original roots reggae with strong rock, ska and blues influences. They are renowned for performing music in English, Afrikaans, Setswana and Tshivhenda. Each language has musical implications 'If I sing lyrics in Xhosa,' explains Wulana, 'I need to have a Xhosa melody and harmony. We grew up singing our traditional songs, with their humming and clapping, that were very different from what we sang at school.' This culturally rich reality continues to shape the group's distinctive take on reggae, an approach steeped in South African sensibilities and sounds. Tidal Waves take cues from the music popular in townships midcentury. They turn the Zuluinspired mbaqanga, with the sparkling guitar licks and rich harmonies made popular worldwide by artists like Miriam Makeba and Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens, into catchy reggae tracks. "You cant be a South African and not play mbaqanga," says Wulana.
    Tidal Waves are very excited to announce that they are off to America in March 2011 to spread original music for original people to the masses. Highlights that have been confirmed thus far include official showcases at SXSW South by Southwest music conference in Austin Texas, The Valley of the Vapours Festival in Arizona as well as the 35Conferette Festival in Denton. Touring America has been a life long dream for the band, and performing with Ziggy...