{"id":115723,"date":"2020-11-17T12:30:34","date_gmt":"2020-11-17T17:30:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/?p=115723"},"modified":"2023-01-24T08:19:39","modified_gmt":"2023-01-24T13:19:39","slug":"getting-to-know-matt-swampguinee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dcmusicreview.com\/staging\/getting-to-know-matt-swampguinee\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting To Know: Matt SwampGuinee"},"content":{"rendered":"

I was introduced to<\/span> Matt SwampGuinee<\/strong><\/span><\/a> after a show at Bl<\/strong>ack Cat<\/strong> by a mutual music friend who said, “you HAVE to listen to what this guy is working on.” <\/span>He was so right.<\/span><\/p>\n

Matt and I chatted for a bit before he handed me a copy of the CD “Born Again” by his group Crank LuKongo<\/b>. On my ride home through the city, I gave it a listen. <\/span><\/p>\n

And damn, this album hit me hard in the best of ways, it’s one of those albums I keep in my constant rotation. It is Go-Go heart with consciousness raising lyrics. I<\/span>nfused with so much DC soul, its message reaches deep into this city’s roots, yet its themes reach far beyond this city.  Although created in 2018, it is a very fitting soundtrack what’s going on in the entire country right now.<\/p>\n

I had a chance to catch up with Matt, finally, after over a year since our introduction to find out more about this phenomenal album and what his music collective Crank LuKongo<\/strong> is all about. <\/p>\n

Hello Matt, it’s so great to finally connect with you!  <\/strong>I know you have a ton of projects. Tell me more about what bands you play in and your musical projects of late<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks so much, Nina, so happy to connect with you, too!<\/p>\n

As a freelance percussionist and drummer, I currently play, perform and record with a number of groups and artists in a wide variety of music styles. They are Bambu Station<\/strong><\/a>, The Legendary Wailers featuring Junior Marvin<\/strong><\/a>, The Archives<\/strong><\/a>, Thievery Corporation<\/strong><\/a>, Charles Road<\/strong><\/a>, The Harold Little Quintet<\/strong><\/a>, Lazy K<\/strong><\/a>, and my very own production, Crank LuKongo<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n

Clearly this is what feeds your soul.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Absolutely.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

I’m most familiar with your work Crank LuKongo. Start there and tell me more about this super group.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Crank Lukongo<\/strong> is a musical movement made up of a variety of songwriters and musicians with each expressing compelling stories, assuming our roles and commitment as contemporary urban griots. <\/p>\n

Our self termed genre, \u201cAfro Go-Go Roots Music\u201d is defined as a Go-Go hybrid \u2014 a branch or form of Go-Go music \u2014 a rhythmic foundation of DC Go-Go with a diverse melodic root from many other styles of music including Jazz, Afro-Cuban, Salsa, Blues, Reggae, Hip-hop, Folk, Rock, Afrobeat, Worldbeat, R&B\/Soul and Funk.<\/p>\n

The lyrical subject matter gives it some distinction as Go-Go music is mostly known for more party-type music. There are a few other Go-Go hybrid groups that have emerged from the shadows of Go-Go proper and it\u2019s other sub-genres. <\/p>\n

I want to hear more about those other hybrid groups but first, tell me more about your most recent album, “Born Again.” <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBorn Again\u201d was released in 2018. It has a strong Go-Go rhythmic foundation with heavy World-Music\/Worldbeat elements. Each song minus one are all original compositions from myself and other members of Crank LuKongo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve listened to this album and was incredibly moved by the music and emotion in it. There are a lot of strong messages in the album, talk to me about that. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Thank you so much. Each song contains a narrative promoting cultural awareness, asserting social activism, highlighting and honoring the historical anthropology of the Native and Indigenous people from the Washington, DC region, and the love of self and humanity. <\/p>\n

That’s one thing I really love about “Born Again.” It feels SO quintessential DC, you can hear the city’s voice in this album. And it’s so relevant for right now. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The whole concept came from my years of touring the globe with Virgin Island Roots Reggae group, Bambu Station<\/strong>. Being in a group of majority Virgin Islanders and other parts of the Caribbean, I was constantly asked by fans about my place of birth once they heard me speak.  They always seemed to be in shock when I told them that I was born in Washington, DC. People typically have no idea that people of color are native to the region they know as the nation\u2019s capital of the United States as well as having our own distinct culture, mannerisms, vernacular, music and dance, etcetera.<\/p>\n

Because the people were so interested and intrigued, I found myself in a position of sharing. As a music educator and aspiring ethnomusicologist, it was very easy for me to share our unique indigenous form of music called Go-Go and it\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, I envisioned a concept to create an all original musical voice using Go-Go that would and could share as much about our culture, it\u2019s history and current issues to the global community all while instilling pride within our own communities back home in the DC area. <\/p>\n

It’s a phenomenal album and there is so much heart in it. What was the reaction when you released this in 2018 and where did you go from there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

So many things to say. First and foremost, gratitude. The outpouring of appreciation and validation from many on social media and radio was so appreciated. I am so grateful for that and the consistency in rotation of airplay on local and other regional radio programs. The fans are the best. <\/p>\n

We were able to shoot and release two official music videos,  \u201cAfter the Revolution\u201d which was shot on location at historic Fort Stevens Civil War Battleground and  \u201cGhosts of Anacostia\u201d which was shot in entirety on location in historic Anacostia. (Cool side note \u2014 we served as a contributor with the name changing of the Washington Football Team\u2019s former name. This can be noted through reference in  \u201cGhosts of Anacostia.\u201d) <\/p>\n

And we played some incredible shows. First our sold out C<\/strong>rank LuKongo<\/strong> album release party at The Eaton Hotel<\/strong> \u2014 we were the first Go-Go group to perform there \u2014 featuring the legendary Junior Marvin<\/strong> of Bob Marley & The Wailers<\/strong> (guitar), and the legendary Juju House<\/strong> of Experience Unlimited (EU)<\/strong> and Chuck Brown<\/strong> (drums). This was the first and only time the two legends performed together.<\/p>\n

We had some other great shows. We headlined the first annual Down In The Reeds Music & Healing Festival<\/strong> at Walter Reed Park, shared the stage with the legendary Boukman Eksperyans<\/strong> (Haitian Roots Music), performed at the prestigious Carnegie Institute for Science for the Institute for Policy Studies and at the Letelier<\/b>–Moffitt Human Rights<\/b> Awards <\/strong>which was amazing. <\/p>\n

Finally, we were nominated for two WAMMIE <\/strong>Awards in 2019 for Best Go-Go Album and Best Go-Go Group\/Artists, which was a huge honor. <\/p>\n

That is wonderful, and man, does it make me miss the pre-pandemic days and live shows. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tell me about the myriad of people you collaborate with, it sounds like you have a community of artists you like to work with. <\/strong><\/p>\n

As a freelance musician, I have the benefit of working with and collaborating with some amazing musicians that I envisioned them being a part of the Crank LuKongo<\/strong> collective. This made the formation of the concept much easier because I knew that I wanted each song to be distinct while allowing each musician or artist bring their spirit and character to the production. I wanted a family vibe of people with good energy and on board with making this music positive and for the people. It took almost five years to complete the album but we executed very professionally. It was my first project wearing a producer\u2019s hat and having the personnel that we had, I was very satisfied with the results. <\/p>\n

And who are the players in the group?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although the core of Crank LuKongo<\/strong> is not as large as the actual number of contributors on the album, all people involved are connected as a family. Some of the most noticeable contributors are Junior Marvin<\/strong> (lead guitarist for Bob Marley & the Wailers<\/strong>), Georges Kuakou<\/strong> (keyboardist and producer for Alpha Blondy<\/strong>), Mighty Moe Hagans<\/strong> (percussionist for EU<\/strong>, Chuck Brown Band<\/strong>), Ron Winters<\/strong> (lead guitarist for Branch Manager<\/strong>), Nala Shabam<\/strong> (keyboardist\/pianist for Jackie McClean<\/strong>, New Soil Ship<\/strong>), Tuff Lion<\/strong> (lead guitarist and vocalist for Bambu Station<\/strong>, Lion Charge<\/strong>), Frankie Addison<\/strong> (saxophonist for The Addison Bros Quintet<\/strong>, The Blues Alley Big Band<\/strong> and more), Lazy K Lofton<\/strong> (guitarist and vocalist for Lazy K<\/strong>, Bassehead<\/strong> and more), Dave Blackwell <\/strong>(vocalist, guitarist and bassist for Pure Light Seed<\/strong>, Charles Road<\/strong>, Muscles and Jackbone<\/strong> and more).<\/p>\n

Other contributors are Warren Pedersen<\/strong> (bass and engineer),  Brian Clark<\/strong> (percussion), Andre LaSalle<\/strong> (guitar), Philippe LeMaire<\/strong> (keyboards), I\u2019la Vibez<\/strong> (vocals), Head Roc<\/strong> (vocals), Tom Workman<\/strong> (vocals), Sebi Medina-Tayac<\/strong> (vocals), Izabella Sparrow<\/strong> (backing vocals), Samadhi Miller<\/strong> (backing vocals), Kelvin Montgomery<\/strong> (trombone), and Donald Tillery<\/strong> (trumpet). <\/p>\n

You mentioned other hybrid Go-Go groups, who else is out there doing this kind of thing? <\/strong><\/p>\n

There are so many great hybrid bands out there, top of mind are:<\/p>\n