Rwanda, You Should Be Loved

The Good Ones renown is evidenced by the stellar musicians who collaborated with them on their new album: Wilco’s Nels Cline, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, and Fugazi’s Joe Lally.

In 2009, Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott) traveled to Rwanda in search of local music with his Italian-Rwandan wife, filmmaker and photographer, Marilena Delli. After two weeks of criss-crossing the country and listening to countless artists, they met the Good Ones.

For the new album, You Should Be Loved, bandleader Adrien Kazigira composed over forty songs. The recording was done live without overdubs on Adrien’s farm in Rwanda. Since they live without electricity and have had little access to devices to reproduce musical recordings, their vocalizations are based on the singing traditions and dialect of their local immediate agricultural district more than by outside and Western influences.

Primary songwriter Adrien Kazigira interweaves intricate harmonies with co-singer, Janvier Havugimana, in a style frequently referred to as “worker songs from the streets.” With the musicians rural and remote hilltop origins, the harmonic similarities to American Bluegrass vocals is often eerie. Third member, Javan Mahoro, lends additional background vocals and percussion on select songs.