Danny Kalima signed by UK label

A UK-based record label has signed three Malawian artists, with Lilongwe musician Sirius being the first one to release an album under the agreement.

Titled The Young Shall Grow, this is the first album that The Spare Dog records is currently promoting in Europe and across the globe.

“It’s a privilege to be sponsored by an international firm, which does not normally happen in Malawi. The Young Shall Grow is an Rn’B, Afro-funk and soul with a traditional fusion album. It has 11 songs that have been recorded here at Moto Wambili Studio by my promoter Mattias Stalnacke before he went back to the UK to establish Spare Dog,” said the artist, who has since rebranded to his birth name Danny Kalima.

One of the songs that promises to be a hit is Dusty City, which talks about the migration of people from different parts of Malawi to Lilongwe.

“Lilongwe is the centre of economic activities now in Malawi and as such, there are a lot of people coming into the dusty city from all corners of the country. Despite different cultures and beliefs, they all live in harmony and peace. That’s the beautiful story of the dusty city,” he explained.

The album is currently available on iTunes, Spotify and the Spare Dog website with the launch scheduled for Friday in Lilongwe.

“The launch at Chameleon will see artists such as Adrian and Blasto supporting me. I will be backed by a band from Norway made up of different artists as I have been working with them for some time. People should be on the lookout for my DVD soon,” he said

So far, Dusty City, Nkhawa and Chafera M’mazira are both doing well on both radio and television.

For some months, Stalnacke stayed in Nkhata Bay as a tourist where he fell in love with Malawi music.

He opened up Moto Wambili Studio where he recorded a number of Malawian hits before heading back to the UK.

His new studio is only recording Malawian artists and apart from Kalima, Stalnacke has signed artists David Luhanga of Body, Mind and Soul and Michael Mountain.