Double Drop, Xabizo – Bendingayazi
(incl. Leo Guardo Remix)
After the release of “Bendingayazi” on Villahangar Records, available from September 9th on all digital portals and streaming platforms, let’s go discover the artist and author of the track: DOUBLE DROP.
Villahangar’s realease for winter 2021-22 continue: the label releases “Bendingayazi“, the new track by the emerging African artist Double Drop together with the artist, new musical promise, Xabizo.
A happy return for Villahangar: in 2020 Double Drop participated in the Various Artists [#UNDERWATER] of the label released in October creating “Nguvu“, an openly Afro track with killer dancefloor grooves and a very particular use of sound.
For Double Drop, born Adérito do Rosário Inácio Bucuane, born in Maputo, Mozambique, in 1992, the adventure in the artistic path began in 2006 thanks to productions in genres such as Hip-Hop and R’N’B.
In 2015 he wrote his first song under the sign of House, entitled “Riddick”, by Theory of Groove Records: a national success not only for its genre of reference, as the most downloaded track for three months according to “Mais” and “Music Crib”, a major national magazine and the most important digital music site in Mozambique.
Later, Double Drop with his genius continued with releases on labels such as Labels Lupara Records (ESP), Aaron Jackson Audiophile XXL’s Label America from their single “Gangsta”, Audio Rehab (UK), Bodhi Records (US), Build It Records (USA), Gangsta House Rowdy (Russia), First Edition (USA) and White Widow (Poland). But also, many internationally relevant such as Afrocentric, MoBlack, Transa Records.
His tracks have been played in the world by DJs such as Kolombo, San Shiba, Beatangers, Aaron Jackson, Mark Radford, Marc Spence, Nytron, Wasabi, Nappi.
Nytron do Brasil, one of the most famous House Music artists in terms of Beatport sales, wanted him for a collaboration on a track to be published on Tropical Heat (Greece).
A personal direction his, unpredictable and mysterious: passed through Hip Hop, R’N’B, Nudisco, Bass House, Tech House, Techno, today he stands out under the sign of Afro House, which reflects his positive and distinctly dense with humanity nature: coming into contact over time with many genres, for him an indissoluble artistic and creative heritage, his is a contagious sound, warm and without limits regarding creativity and fusion of styles.
In 2018 he took a break from music, but in 2020 he returned with new creative sap, riding the evolution of the times but always tied to his roots, and he has recently released on MoBlack Records as well as two EPs: Hoyo Hoyo on WAYU, more organic, and another, Dawa on Go Deeva Records, more inclined to afro-tech.
For the future he has in store a song in collaboration with the South African artist Vuyani that will be part of a compilation on DJ Chus’ Redolent label, as well as a single that will be released on Ocha Records with the participation of his colleague Arisis.
Joining other talented young producers at home, he decided to create his own label Xibalo, Mozambique’s promising reference project that has earned a place on the international Afro scene.
For his new track “Bendingayazi” made in collaboration with the artist Xabizo, great musical promise, – which title comes from ‘babalaza’, as the hangovers in Mozambique and South Africa are called, which later became ‘Bindigaize’, dizzy – he chose afrobeat sounds, exploring new boundaries and getting involved.
And he was inspired by “Tenet”, the highly acclaimed film directed by Christopher Nolan: acting in reverse just like in the film where the actions take place backwards in time, he manipulated the sample of song of the soundtrack with the same fascinating inspiration.
1. You were born in Maputo, Mozambique. Do you live and have you always lived here?
Yes, but thank God I had the opportunity to get to know the whole country.
2. What evolution do you think house music is experiencing on the international scene? What do you think are the differences with the country where you live?
I think house music will always be house music, of course musical genres are solidifying, but for example today I can say that the genre we make house music in Africa is very similar to the way the Latins do, house music is experimenting now lots of organic elements, that make the songs more intimate and sexier.
About my good country, you need to visit, there is a lot to talk about it, a lot to discover, and a lot to develop, we are a young country, only 46 years old, despite globalization, the country suffers a lot because of externals interests, and that generates war and corruption, but for this theme I recommend Kendrick Lamar’s music – Alright.
3. You started as a producer with genres such as Hip-Hop and R’N’B. What memory do you have of your first song, “Riddick”, from 2015, and of its national success?
I have a lot of memories, the music played at almost every party here, the South African DJs from the Bass House scene played the music a lot, A defining moment was when I heard the music in a car with custom speakers that was passing by on the street.
4. From then on, you published on relevant international labels songs played by different DJs in the world and then Nytron do Brasil, one of the most famous House Music artists in terms of Beatport sales, wanted you for a collaboration on a track to be published on Tropical Heat (Greece). What memory do you have of this?
I remember that at that time I sent the song to a Brazilian record label, and the owner of the record label informed me that their Sound Engineer wanted a collaboration with me on the song. The engineer was Nytron, I remember that the song was one of the best sellers at Tropical Heat.
5. In 2020 you went back to the music scene after a two-year break. How did you experience this period and what pushed you to start again?
I recreated myself, and reinforced my native ties in the music I made, that was the secret.
6. Your genre of reference is Afro House. How much and how where you live, where you are originally from and your background influence your music production?
You went through Hip Hop, R’N’B, Nudisco, Bass House, Tech House, Techno. Do you continue to listen to those genres in order to inspire you, or are there also others?
Mozambique has a huge cultural variety, so we have many traditional musical genres here, from mapiko to marrabenta, thus this facilitates the assimilation of fusion with Afro and electronic.
I play all kinds of music, clearly these styles continue to inspire me, but I have had break times where I didn’t play any music even mine, I have sometimes found therapy for my creative process.
7. What message and emotions do you want to convey with your music?
I always want to convey the feeling of peace in the songs, that’s all. If aggressive and obscure songs sometimes bring peace then I do it to allow the listener a unique experience, whether in the club or in the kitchen preparing a dinner, in a moment of happiness or in a moment of sadness.
8. Can you tell us about your Xibalo label that you created with other talented young producers in Mozambique?
It is a promising project, and it has conquered a place in the Afro scene. I can say that it is a reference of Mozambique in the international Afro scene, the next releases will impress everyone, good things are coming.
9. Speaking of releases, what were your most recent projects, what are the current ones and those of the most immediate future?
Well, I recently released two Eps one on WAYU and another one on Go Deeva, the first Hoyo Hoyo by WAYU, more organic, and the second Dawa by Go Deeva, more inclined to Afro-tech.
Regarding the present, stay tuned to Villahagar and in the future I have already signed a song in partnership with the South African artist Vuyani that will be part of a compilation on DJ Chus’ Redolent label, and a single that will be released to Ocha Records with participation of a very talented fellow of mine, Arisis.
10. Given the difficulties of the pandemic of the past year, how do you deal with the issue and in what direction do you think the musical world must move to overcome the impossibility of live events? How is the situation where you live?
The situation is very boring, but it is improving. Soon we will be on the dancefloor and at parties all together, the remaining time is 100% dedicated to music.
11. Last year you participated in Villahangar’s Various Artist Underwater. A year later, what do you think of the project?
It is a pleasure to be part of the multicultural project, the most beautiful thing is to reach new audiences and meet new artists.
12. For your new track with Villahangar, as far as sound and inspiration are concerned, what did you work on? What kind of emotions did you want to convey? How was it born?
I was watching a movie by a famous director, and I loved the movie’s soundtrack. Therefore I downloaded the track, put a reverse on the part I liked the most, used the TENET effect lol, I manipulated the sample so as not to leave evidence.
13. The track is in collaboration with Xabizo. Can you tell us how you met and why did you choose him for this collaboration?
I met her thanks to an amateur video she posted on her feed, randomly, or I think it was fate. She is very genuine and true, someone who really loves art, she is certainly a promise.
At the time we met, I was already in the process of building the music, so this was a big step for this collaboration that I consider magical.
14. Can you tell us something about the title of the track?
I then contacted my friend Xabizo to see if she had an idea, I wanted the song to speak of someone who has a hangover, ‘babalaza’ as we call it in Mozambique and South Africa, but Bindigaize means to be dizzy, I thought it was perfect and I said that this would be the title of the song.
15. What are your plans for your musical activity? Are there any clubs where you would like to play? And some producers you would like to work with?
Release an album in 2023 is my plan and I already have some songs for the project.
I would like to perform at El fortin (Brazil).
Then to collaborate with anyone in particular, maybe with myself when I buy a microphone, I plan to do some vocals for my album.
16. What do you think of Villahangar’s path on the release front? What prompted you to release a new track here?
I think the principles of the label are very good, and they try to pay attention to the artists, not to mention a multicultural spirit, it is possible to see an Italian “Leo Guardo” collaborating with the South African “Tabia”.
I believe that one day the label will give a multicultural festival with its artists, and I want to be at these parties hahaha.
