Projects
CHiLLUM WOODS SOUND Presents... John-Mary Muzeyi
CWS director Gdava Woods met John-Mary Muzeyi in July 2005 at Kabira International School in Kampala, Uganda. Gdava had just arrived in Uganda to take the position of Head of Music at the school. John-Mary was the music teacher at the time. After a few days of talking about music and teaching, John-Mary played Gdava some of his own compositions, accompanying himself on guitar. Woods was struck by the rich, unique, silky voice that John-Mary sang with, especially when he was singing blues. So, time passed and teaching and other musical activities happened. But for some reason, we didn't work together on his music. Over the years, Woods and John-Mary met at various venues around Kampala, often with John-Mary entertaining as the lead singer of the popoular Ugandan band Baxmba Waves (CWS has manufactured and released the latest Baxmba Waves album, a fantastic collection of African influenced jazz fusion, although sadly John-Mary was not with the band when it was recorded a number of years ago. Please check the website for details). So, CWS grew and John-Mary's vocal and instrumental skills improved further. The time was approaching when we would start working together on this album.
So, Woods asked John-Mary for a demo cassette of his songs, in July 2007. John-Mary had recorded a song with Gdava for the Uganda Cranes football team called "Go, Cranes, Go!" and one of John-Mary's compositions, just to check the sound and feel of the music. During August, Woods analized the demo tape and sent constructive feedback and suggestions to John-Mary by email. It was quite clear which were the strongest tracks and they made up an album's length. So, there were delays for a further few months due to the lack of power at our new home in Masindi and Gdava going to Kampala to work on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) opening ceremony. However, both knew this album needed to be started and soon. The mood, music and moment were all right.
They met in Kampala just before Woods left to finally live in Masindi fulltime. And John-Mary gave the "bad" news: he had been offered and accepted a new job as music teacher at Aga Khan school in Mombassa, Kenya. This was a great opportunity to further his career and have more stability for himself and his family. However, it meant that there was a window of just 3 or 4 days when he could travel to Masindi to make the album. Instead of the expected week or more to really experiment and arrange the material, only a few days with John-Mary present were possible. So, Gdava went home to prepare and waited for John-Mary. The studio time was very efficient and professional. This was the first time that the new up-country studio had been used for a project and when running delicate computer and recording equipment by a generator and batteries, Gdava was just a little concerned. But things worked out very well, recording guitar parts that were direct input and working on the arrangements when the generator was running and charging the batteries, then recording with microphones by battery power at night when the village is the quietest. John-Mary had worked hard on the songs since the feedback he received six months before. He was a true professional and recorded most of the parts in one take.
Both singer and producer greatly enjoyed the time. For Woods, it was the peace of the local environment - a perfect break after a long session in the studio - exactly why CWS came to Masindi to work. John-Mary felt the same, but for him it was extra special as it was the first time he had ever recorded, apart from the preparation work we did in Kampala six months before. It is amazing that a musican and songwriter of his standard has never recorded. But that is what happens in Uganda. Sometimes even professionals (teachers, etc) do not earn enough to risk so much money recording with the 'top' Kampala producers, especially when they have kids to feed. For the majority poor, recording is simply a distant dream. Which is exactly why CHiLLUM WOODS SOUND has grown in Uganda. This album is some of the evidence that the work we do here (as well as being a commercial venture...eventually!) really does help Ugandan musicans develop their own, long-term music careers.
So, John-Mary is now in Mombassa and he is becoming a very good ambassador for CWS, in Kenya. It often seems like there's a reason why things work out the way they do! Woods worked intensly on the album for the following few weeks, while John-Mary dodged the thugs and roadblocks in the aftermath of the Kenyan elections. Gdava has added some instruments to some tracks and edited and mixed the whole album. It is being finalised at the moment, after which it will be sent to John-Mary for his comments before CWS starts the manufacturing process. I know that many people around the world will love John-Mary Muzeyi's silky voice and blues guitar playing. This is the first music on CWS's catalogue to be in English, apart from some of the CHiLLUM WOODS ROOTS reggae tracks. At first Gdava was unsure if it was appropriate for the company. However, this music is excellent, wherever it was made and whatever language it is in. Please take a listen to some of the samples and spread the word about this unique singer. CHiLLUM WOODS SOUND would like to thank John-Mary Muzeyi for his work on this great album and for his faith and trust in CWS, both logistically and musically. CWS looks forward to more fantastic collaborations with John-Mary in the near future.
"Thanks for all the effort, input and guidance on the album. Thanks for giving your heart in the production of my first album. It has been a pleasure to work with you and I look forward to more projects with you. During the final mastering of the album I have been away in another country, and yet I could sit back and go about my other duties, and rely on you, as producer, to come up with a nice finish to the album. I have fond memories of your Chillum Woods upcountry studio, where I was treated to your nice hospitality, and could work with undivided attention in the serenity of the remote studio." - John-Mary Muzey