Awesome Tapes From Africa

It's a blog not a label but we couldn't resist making Brian Shimkovitz 'something of the week'. While studying hip hop in Ghana (we know... what a degree) he started collecting African tapes and eventually, put them online for the world to enjoy at http://awesometapesfromafrica.blogspot.com/. We caught up with him for a quick chat about the blog before his trip to the UK for All Tomorrow's Parties and DJ sets at The Old Blue Last. Read Part 1 below.

When did you decide to start Awesome Tapes from Africa?

I started the blog in 2006 shortly after moving to Brooklyn. It felt like an entertaining way to show people these interesting tapes I found in West Africa.

How long had you been searching for the music for your own enjoyment?

I had been collecting tapes since 2002 and sometime sharing them with friends.

How do you find the tapes?

It's been a few years since I've had the chance to visit Africa so I've been receiving tapes in the mail from people around the world. I've also found some good things in random shops around New York and Paris.

Is there any particular region that's your favourite?

I've always been fascinated by the music of Northern Mali.

Have you thought about writing a guide to African music?

Ha, no I have not thought about writing a book. But a big coffee table book of African tape covers would be cool.

Can you give us a dummies guide right now? What should we know?

You should just search around youtube using looking for a country you're curious about and maybe an instrument. Youtube is the best thing in the world for discovering out-of-the-way music.

What do you think of compilations like Congotronics?

Oh I love most of those compilations. I really don't know shit about all this music, it's many of these diggers who are putting together wonderful comps who are really going deep research-wise.

And the interest in African music in the west over the past few years? Love it?

I think any time people are opening up to a lot of different kinds of music or art or whatever, it's going to be a positive thing. Sure it can be annoying to feel like the interest in African music has become this exotic novelty. The point of my blog is to make available the music that you'd hear in a bar in that particular region. So the aim is welcome people into the way regular good ol' music sounds in Africa.

Five things we should know about Awesome Tapes from Africa?

1. No one is an expert.
2. Everyone can dance.
3. Africa is big.
4. The line between popular music and folk music is blurry.
5. Electronic sounds in African music does not equal cheesy.

Five awesome tapes we should check out right now.

1. Boubacar Traore
2. Alem Kebede
3. Ibro Diabate
4. Wulomei
5. Ata Kak



What will you be playing on Saturday?

I am going to be playing everything from guitar music from Northern Mali to hiphop from Senegal to rai from Morocco.

Awesome Tapes From Africa DJs the Old Blue Last this weekend for our bests at Dance Magic Dance. Fair Oh's play live. Get down from 8pm. It's free, you know the score. Read part 2 of the interview next week