Mwanzo

Biography

From a young age in their native Kenya Bien, Chimano, Delvin and Polycarp were conditioned to believe that music was a worthless pursuit. Together they fought hard against these cultural stereotypes and developed a unique confidence in their art that provides an exciting fuel for their music and live performances. Blending warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences, Sauti Sol’s mélange of energetic rhythms have promoted the group to become one of East Africa's most celebrated. Sauti...

From a young age in their native Kenya Bien, Chimano, Delvin and Polycarp were conditioned to believe that music was a worthless pursuit.
Together they fought hard against these cultural stereotypes and developed a unique confidence in their art that provides an exciting fuel for their music and live performances.

Blending warm resonant pop with traditional Kenyan influences, Sauti Sol’s mélange of energetic rhythms have promoted the group to become one of East Africa's most celebrated. Sauti Sol encompass the band’s mix of soulful voices with vocal harmonies, guitar riffs and drum rhythm. With two extremely successful albums in three years, this band reflects a range of musical wealth inspired by African artists including Lokua Kanza, Fadhili Williams, Daudi Kabaka, Fally Ipupa and Salif Keita to British and American artists Coldplay and Jason Mraz.

Sauti Sol’s two albums, Mwanzo (2008) and Sol Filosofia (2011), have received high acclaim on Kenyan charts and gained international attention with shows in Europe and the US, as well as television appearances, various nominations, and most recently their performance with the internationally-renowned South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. 

Sauti Sol has steadily built their professional international experience. A tour through Europe in 2010 brought them to Sweden where they made a television appearance and recorded their most recent album, Sol Filosofia. In March of 2011, Sauti Sol accepted an invitation to perform at the South By Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas (marking their first American appearance) where they were met with a barrage of enthusiasm. Celebrated by a host of fans, fellow artists and bloggers as the “most entertaining” and “best dressed act” at the festival, Sauti Sol plans to return to their growing American and diaspora fan base. They are currently working on a collaborative EP with South African artist Spoek Mathambo of the Seattle-based Sub Pop Records. In early 2012 they debuted at the “festival sur le Niger” in Mali where they were invited onto stage and performed alongside some of their idols; Habib Koite, Salif Keita and Lokua Kanza.

In 2011 they were nominated for the second year running in the Best Group category for the Kenyan Chaguo La Teeniez (CHAT) Awards. In 2010 they received a Museke Online Africa Music Award (MOAMA) for Best Group and a nomination for Best African Newcomer at the 2010 African Music Awards (AMA). In 2011, they won two Kisima Music Awards for Best Afro-Fusion Group and Best Music Video ("Coming Home").
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