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Keturah

by Keturah

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    From the warm heart of Malawi, Africa rises Keturah, a 26-year-old virtuoso arriving to the world stage with her self-titled debut. A 10-track odyssey chronicling Keturah’s journey from the tiny remote home village of Monza to the shores of Venice, California. "Keturah,” updates traditional Malawian folk with contemporary rhythms from the greater African diaspora, a cultural exchange made possible through a unique opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to record her first full-length project.

    Having never stepped foot on an airplane, let alone leave Malawi, Keturah's 30-hour trip proved to be a significant leap forward in an artist’s journey that began on foot. As a child, Keturah first realized her musical potential 0n walks through her village with her uncle. He’d strum his guitar and sing ballads. She’d just watch and listen until eventually gaining the confidence to join in with her own melodies. In song, she began to form a connection with her community that had long been elusive. As a child she mostly kept to herself, often feeling more like an elder than a friend to her peers. She found solace in her thoughts or those of her mother, who often sat her down to share wisdom through stories and memories. The two became best friends until she passed away with Keturah just 13. Having already lost her uncle, Keturah turned to music as a way of carrying forward her family's message. 

    Not yet fourteen, but determined to reach a larger audience, again Keturah set out on foot, this time for Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city, where she hoped to find a recording studio. She met a local producer who was so impressed by her voice that he offered to record her for free. Keturah put down one song that eventually made its way onto radio, launching her music career with releases empowering listeners to connect their Malawian identity as a way to realize their own power.  The attitude resonated, Keturah earned the nickname “local girl” as she rose to the status of Malawian celebrity. 

    Her talent soon caught the eye of  French Honorary Consul Luc Deschamps, who runs  the Jacaranda Foundation, a Malawian school for AIDS orphans and its cultural center. He recognized her potential and connected her with Harlan Steinberger, director of Hen House Studios, an independent music label and recording studio, churning out roots world music in Venice, California. Jacaranda arranged for Keturah to travel to Los Angeles to record at Hen House in July of 2022. She arrived with voice notes featuring roughly sketched melodies over lo-fi guitar and let Harlan mold things from there. He hoped to elevate the demos into anthems by calling in Playing for Change co-founder Mark Johnson and surrounding Keturah with an all-star cast of musicians, including the rhythm section of the Playing for Change Band (Jason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo),  bass player Kaveh Rastegar (John Legend, Bruno Mars), Magatte Sow (Senegalese drummer featured on the Black Panther soundtrack), seasoned Kora player Prince Diabate, Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson's long-time harmonica player), The Doors drummer John Densmore (percussion), soul singer Chris Pierce, Zimbabwean guitar legend Louis Mhlanga and the young Stones Throw pianist Jamael Dean. The album journeys through a dynamic blend of genres, from the lively, upbeat afro-folk-funk rhythms of "Kwanumkwanu" to the emotive ballads of "Sukulu" and "Chimbalame", the Americana inspired “Nchiwewe” and more lighthearted tracks such as "All The Way from Africa" and "Ku Nyumba." Keturah's exceptional songwriting and powerful vocals are elevated by intricate percussion, melodic guitar lines, subtle backing vocals and horns, creating an eclectic album that showcases her talent as an African songstress ready to make a global impact. 

    Includes unlimited streaming of Keturah via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
Ku Nyumba 05:52
2.
Mvula 03:45
3.
4.
5.
6.
Sukulu 05:41
7.
8.
Samala 03:57
9.
Chimbalame 04:29
10.
Wewe 03:25

about

From the warm heart of Malawi, Africa rises Keturah, a 26-year-old virtuoso arriving to the world stage with her self-titled debut. A 10-track odyssey chronicling Keturah’s journey from the tiny remote home village of Monza to the shores of Venice, California. "Keturah,” updates traditional Malawian folk with contemporary rhythms from the greater African diaspora, a cultural exchange made possible through a unique opportunity to travel to Los Angeles to record her first full-length project.

Having never stepped foot on an airplane, let alone leave Malawi, Keturah's 30-hour trip proved to be a significant leap forward in an artist’s journey that began on foot. As a child, Keturah first realized her musical potential 0n walks through her village with her uncle. He’d strum his guitar and sing ballads. She’d just watch and listen until eventually gaining the confidence to join in with her own melodies. In song, she began to form a connection with her community that had long been elusive. As a child she mostly kept to herself, often feeling more like an elder than a friend to her peers. She found solace in her thoughts or those of her mother, who often sat her down to share wisdom through stories and memories. The two became best friends until she passed away with Keturah just 13. Having already lost her uncle, Keturah turned to music as a way of carrying forward her family's message. 

Not yet fourteen, but determined to reach a larger audience, again Keturah set out on foot, this time for Blantyre, Malawi’s second largest city, where she hoped to find a recording studio. She met a local producer who was so impressed by her voice that he offered to record her for free. Keturah put down one song that eventually made its way onto radio, launching her music career with releases empowering listeners to connect their Malawian identity as a way to realize their own power.  The attitude resonated, Keturah earned the nickname “local girl” as she rose to the status of Malawian celebrity. 

Her talent soon caught the eye of  French Honorary Consul Luc Deschamps, who runs  the Jacaranda Foundation, a Malawian school for AIDS orphans and its cultural center. He recognized her potential and connected her with Harlan Steinberger, director of Hen House Studios, an independent music label and recording studio, churning out roots world music in Venice, California. Jacaranda arranged for Keturah to travel to Los Angeles to record at Hen House in July of 2022. She arrived with voice notes featuring roughly sketched melodies over lo-fi guitar and let Harlan mold things from there. He hoped to elevate the demos into anthems by calling in Playing for Change co-founder Mark Johnson and surrounding Keturah with an all-star cast of musicians, including the rhythm section of the Playing for Change Band (Jason Tamba and Mermans Mosengo),  bass player Kaveh Rastegar (John Legend, Bruno Mars), Magatte Sow (Senegalese drummer featured on the Black Panther soundtrack), seasoned Kora player Prince Diabate, Mickey Raphael (Willie Nelson's long-time harmonica player), The Doors drummer John Densmore (percussion), soul singer Chris Pierce, Zimbabwean guitar legend Louis Mhlanga and the young Stones Throw pianist Jamael Dean. The album journeys through a dynamic blend of genres, from the lively, upbeat afro-folk-funk rhythms of "Kwanumkwanu" to the emotive ballads of "Sukulu" and "Chimbalame", the Americana inspired “Nchiwewe” and more lighthearted tracks such as "All The Way from Africa" and "Ku Nyumba." Keturah's exceptional songwriting and powerful vocals are elevated by intricate percussion, melodic guitar lines, subtle backing vocals and horns, creating an eclectic album that showcases her talent as an African songstress ready to make a global impact. 

credits

released May 19, 2023

1. Ku Nyumba (5:52)
Drums: Mermans Mosengo
Congas, shaker: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar: Jason Tamba
Lead vocals: Keturah

2. Mvula (3:46)
Drums, shaker, background vocals: Mermans Mosengo
Surdo, conga: Harlan Steinberger
Djembe, talking drum: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic & electric guitar: Jason Tamba
Lead vocals: Keturah

3. Kwanumkwanu (5:11)
Calabash, bass drum, background vocals: Mermans Mosengo
Sabar Drums: Magatte Sow
Shaker: John Densmore
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar: Jason Tamba
Acoustic lead guitar: Louis Mhlanga
Lead vocals, shaker: Keturah

4. Nchiwewe (Ode to Willie Nelson) (2:56)
Drums: Mermans Mosengo
Tambourine: John Densmore
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Piano: Chris Tuttle
Harmonica: Mickey Raphael
Acoustic guitar, background vocals: Jason Tamba
Background vocals: Chris Pierce
Lead vocals: Keturah

5. All the way from Africa (3:34)
Drums, background vocals: Mermans Mosengo
Conga, shaker: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic & electric guitars, background vocal: Jason Tamba
Lead vocals: Keturah

6. Sukulu (5:42)
Calabash, background vocals: Mermans Mosengo
Congas, shaker: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar, background vocals: Jason Tamba
Kora: Prince Diabate
Violin, viola, cello: Jake Falby
Lead vocals: Keturah

7. Udzafele Zina (3:30)
Drums, tambourine, shaker: Mermans Mosengo
Conga: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar, banjo: Jason Tamba
Trumpet with plunger: Mark Pender
Lead vocals: Keturah

8. Samala (3:57)
Drums, background vocals: Mermans Mosengo
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar: Jason Tamba
Kora: Prince Diabate
Saxophone: Matt DeMerritt
Background vocals: Bella Mosengo, Simone Mosengo, Satchita Mosengo, Meagan M Ryck
Lead vocals: Keturah

9. Chimbalame (4:30)
Drums: Mermans Mosengo
Sabar drums, talking drum: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic guitar: Jason Tamba
Kora: Prince Diabate
Lead vocals: Keturah

10. Wewe (3:26)
Calabash, cabasa, clave, shaker: Mermans Mosengo
Sabar drums, talking drums, bell, djembe, conga: Magatte Sow
Bass: Kaveh Rastegar
Acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals: Jason Tamba
Background vocals: Chris Pierce, Kara Mack
Piano: Jamael Dean
Lead vocals: Keturah

All songs by Keturah (BMI), Jason Tamba (ASCAP) and Harlan Steinberger (ASCAP) except song “Wewe” by Keturah, Jason Tamba, Harlan Steinberger and Kaveh Rastegar (ASCAP) and Mvula by Keturah and Neil Nayar (PRS)

Produced by Harlan Steinberger and Mark Johnson
Engineered by Harlan Steinberger
Mixed by Mark Johnson
Mastering by Stephen Marcussen
Album design by Nikita Sorokin
Album photos by Victor Praise Mkandawire and Randi Malkin Steinberger
Storyteller Jeremy Steinberger
Recorded at Hen House Studios in Venice Beach, California

Special thanks to: Luc Deschamps, Marie Da Silva, The Jacaranda Foundation and Playing For Change

Copyright 2023 by Hen House Studios LLC., All rights reserved

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Keturah Malawi

From the warm heart of Malawi, Africa rises Keturah, a 27-year-old virtuoso arriving to the world stage with her self-titled debut. A 10-track odyssey chronicling Keturah’s journey from the tiny remote home village of Monza to the shores of Venice, California. ... more

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