Afro Habesha is a 10-piece band who perform traditional and contemporary Ethiopian music. They will be performing on November 21st at Melbourne’s Arts Centre as part of the Multicultural Arts Victoria’s Visible event. Last week, we spoke to Anita Larkin, Project Officer of Visible – check out the interview here.
We trespass with Daniel Seifu of Afro Habesha… find out what he has to say about music and his ensemble.
Name: Daniel Seifu
Occupation: Musician
1. Describe your sound: Light, smooth, spiritual and vibrant.
2. Tell us about Afro Habesha: Afro Habesha Band is a 10-piece ensemble performing Ethiopian traditional and contemporary music and dance. It is soulful, vibrant, visually and aurally beautiful. Vocalist Seble Girma fronts a combination of some of Melbourne’s finest instrumentalists, including the cream of Ethiopian-Australian artists, combining traditional instruments, horn section and a modern rhythm section that ‘rocks’. Extraordinary. Seble’s amazing dance moves and immaculately melodic vocal style were widely applauded in her days with the Ethiopian Circus in which she performed alongside saxophonist Abiy Sahle. Abiy continues to double on the kirar (traditional Ethiopian harp) in the current line-up. They are joined by Australia’s leading contemporary Ethiopian instrumentalist, Daniel Atlaw, Sri Lanka born djembe guru Ray Pereira and a host of other top local artists who have committed seriously to the not insubstantial task of mastering complex Ethiopian rhythms, melodies and song structures. The band is accompanied by energetic and colourful dancers whose costume changes reflect the rich diversity of Ethiopian traditional culture.
3. An event/show/song/film that made you first fall in love with music? My mother house song.
4. Something that always inspires to write music? Cool and quiet atmosphere.
5. Is there a consistent theme or message behind your songs? Love and missing.
6. What does Ethiopian traditional music mean to you? Ancient and different, warm and cool, unique and original scale, fabulous rhythm and colorful costume and dance.
7. Describe the songwriting process: It is different for me, depends on the style of the song.
8. Top five songs you’re currently obsessed with: All Jazz songs
9. A YouTube video find to share with us:
Mehamude Ahmed:
Ethiopian church music:
10. Three Ethiopian tracks to best introduce us to the genre:
My piano solo:
Tawusha Enure by Afro Habesha, and Mela Mela by Mehamud ahmed
11. Aside from music, what else do you get up to? Reading and sports.
Afro Habesha will be performing on November 21st at Melbourne’s Art Centre as part of Multicultural Arts Victoria’s Visible
For more information on Afro Habesha, visit: http://www.afrohabesha.com/
