Kalahari Surfers/Warrick Sony brings beats and bass to Morena Leraba “Ho Sama Sama Remix”
The final release in a series of remixes of Morena Leraba’s acclaimed debut EP, Fela sa Ha Mojela comes from one of South Africa’s iconic creative talents - Warrick Swinney (Sony).
The recording artist and sound theorist, who doubles as a fictional music collective known as the Kalahari Surfers, brings beats and bass to his remix of “Ho Sama Sama”, the opening track on the 2023 release.
“Being a bass player myself and influenced by early seventies dub I felt the track could remix well into a dope-beats and bass track, most of the atmospheres were already well realised,” comments Sony. “I worked from the provided separates and kept the reggae swing factor but built up a heavier bottom end with the rock orientation of the sound designed kit, acoustic guitar and bass, these being my only instrumental additions.”
For Sony, there was a deeply personal connection to the way he approached the remix.
“I thought the African-rock-reggae feel appropriate for Morena’s track as it felt a sort of completion of a Lesotho circle starting with the first Sankomota recording I worked on in Maseru in 1984 which became our (Shifty Records) first and most enduring release. Sankomota—originally called Uhuru—were well known for their afro-rock-reggae sound which framed Frank Leepa’s mysterious lyrics.”
The “Ho Sama Sama” remix completes the series which started with Vox Portent’s emotional remix of “Heleru” and additionally features Spoek Mathambo’s propulsive "Malishon'ilanga” remix, Xzavier Stone’s lush and beautiful remix of Morena Leraba’s “Meritlhoana” and Nane Kahle's transformative rendition of “Morea-rea".
