Ganda Boys Latest Album Blends African Fusion With Major International Collaborations
LONDON, August 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
Group Launches 17 Original Tracks on Third Album, Mountains of the Moon
The Ganda Boys announce the launch of their third album, Mountains of the Moon, featuring a unique blend of African fusion music and collaborations with worldwide artists.
Formed by Denis Mugagga and Daniel Sewagudde, both originally from Uganda, and American Craig Pruess, the UK-based Ganda Boys have been recording and performing together since 2008. This is their third album, following on from the critically-acclaimed albums War of Love and Africa, released in 2009 and 2012 respectively.
Mountains of the Moon's 17 tracks were composed by the Ganda Boys, supported by the various collaborators on certain tracks, and were produced and arranged by Pruess. Songs include emotive lyrics covering global themes of displacement and freedom, with powerful Ugandan tribal chants incorporated in to modern arrangements.
International collaborators include US soul vocalist Carole Rowley, who's performed with renowned artists including Sting, Peter Gabriel and Van Morrison. She joins Ganda Boys on two tracks, Never Too Late and Lift You Up, which she co-wrote.
"We wanted to work with Carol because she understands our ethos and passion," explains Sewagudde. "Never Too Late was written to show that, despite widespread corruption and troubles around the world, there's still time to work together for the better good."
Peace and Freedom and Flag of Freedom feature Young Mbazo, the all-male a cappella group led by Babuyile Shabalala, grandson of Joseph Shabalala, founder of the four time Grammy Award-winning South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Young Mbazo blend hip hop with rap, soul and traditional Zulu sounds and co-wrote these two songs with the Ganda Boys, who merge the lyrics with Luganda chants from the Buganda kingdom of Uganda.
Other collaborators include Ugandan soul vocalist and multiple KORA Awards-winner, Juliana Kanyomozi, who takes lead vocals on Something of My Life, while smooth jazz artist, Isaiah Katumwa - also from Uganda - plays soprano saxophone on the title track Mountains of the Moon.
The album's title was inspired by the Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda, straddling the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo and often referred to as Mountains of the Moon, a reference to the mist-shrouded mountains that tower almost 4,000m above the Albertine Rift Valley, making them visible from great distances.
"Legend has it that a highly advanced civilisation developed in the foothills of this mighty mountain range," explains Pruess. "The tribal chiefs in the region still relate the stories of the great, ancient tribes that inhabited the area, with their high culture of tolerance, arts, music and rich oral history."
Muggaga adds: "The Ganda Boys wrote this album to reflect our own experiences of living in different countries and sharing different cultures. We have been inspired by each of the outstanding musicians and singers who honoured us by participating in Mountains of the Moon and continue to share our message of harmony and freedom."
Mountains of the Moon is available to download now on iTunes; Amazon; Spotify; and CD Baby.
Notes to editors
The Ganda Boys comprise Denis Mugagga, Craig Pruess and Daniel Sewagudde. They formed in 2008 after meeting on the set of the highly acclaimed 2009 BBC TV drama series 'Moses Jones', which was nominated for a BAFTA Award the following year for Best Original Music Score by Craig Pruess. Pruess also composed the soundtracks for the box office UK films Bend it Like Beckham' and 'Bride and Prejudice' and has arranged songs for Elton John, Massive Attack and Def Leppard. The Ganda Boys have released three albums to date: War of Love in 2009 and Africa in 2012. In 2009 the group founded the Ganda Foundation to create service projects for improving the quality of life in rural Africa.
Find the Ganda Boys on:-
Website: gandaboys.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gandaboys
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gandaboys?lang=en
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