Our Song of the Day is from RiZA, a band led by Irish-based Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu. Some of you may recognise Niwel from the Jiggy video we featured earlier this month. We also featured him performing with Liam O’Maonlaí back in 2011 (watch it here). However, bringing you right up to date we have his debut music video for the stunning new track Kabembe, our Song of the Day, taken from his forthcoming album due for August release.
Niwel has been gathering a respectable fan base from the Congo to the Emerald Isle where he is currently based. He’s a gifted guitarist, composer and singer, one that has attracted diverse collaborations with the likes of Sinéad O’Connor, Liam O’Maonlaí, Donal Lunny ,Glen Hansard, as well as international stars such as Ma Xiaohui (Crouching Tiger,Hidden Dragon soundtrack), Senegalese legend Baaba Maal and more.
He has performed all over the world from China to his native Congo and he has released three albums to date with his fourth album planned to drop this August with a UK and European tour with his group RiZA to follow. The album is acoustic and sang mostly in his native Lingala with French and English. It was recorded and mixed at the prestigious Peter Gabriel’s Real world Studio and produced by Niwel Tsumbu.
More details on the album and forthcoming UK and European tour will be released soon at www.niweltsumbu.eu