Now-Again Records

Zambian Rock, Funk, Soul and Disco.

Listen to an example: Chrissy Zebby Tembo “Fisherman.”

Now-Again is happy to represent both master and publishing for many of the most important names in the “Zamrock” movement that took place in the Southern African nation of Zambia in the early to late 70s: WITCH (including the two soul/disco/boogie forays the band made in the their latter career); Paul Ngozi and the Ngozi Family (including Chrissy Zebby Tembo), Salty Dog, Rikki Ililonga, Musi-O-Tunya, The Peace, Born Free and Mike Nyoni are some of the bands and solo artists that we represent.

New York Daily News Investigates Psych Funk: “….Now-Again Travels The Globe To Capture Far-Flung Psychedelia.”

We’re pleased to announce that the New York Daily News was so impressed by our investigations into global psychedelic funk music that they dedicated an article to it. Alongside discussions about our forthcoming Indonesian psych-funk compendium Those Shocking Shaking Days, writer Jim Farber had this to say:

“As it turns out, psychedelia’s glow didn’t only affect musicians in its clichéd epicenters but in places as far off as Ghana, Tehran and Manila all through the ’70s.

Only lately, though, has the full scope of these sounds come to light, many through the efforts of a company called Now-Again Records. Indian-American owner Eothen Alapatt began putting out collections of this swirling music in 2009 with “Forge Your Own Chains: Heavy Psychedelic Ballads and Dirges 1968 to 1974.” It featured mind-bending cuts by period acts born in Colombia, Sweden, South Korea and elsewhere. From there, the company started traipsing the world, territory by territory, to issue in the last year alone collections by psych bands centered in India, Zambia and Indonesia…

…f ew have exceeded Now-Again’s eagerness and breadth, not to mention their sumptuous packaging and obsessively detailed liner notes.”

Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya on NPR’s “All Songs Considered.”

We’re pleased to announce that Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya’s “Dark Sunrise” made it on to NPR’s “All Songs Considered” this afternoon. You can link to the program – and the song – below. A sample of the conversation shared by hosts Bob Bollen and Robin Hilton:

RH: You know so much about music, Bob…. I’m wondering, of all of the places you have mined for music – has your curiosity ever taken you to Zambian rock?
BB: I can’t think of one.
RH: I couldn’t have named one before this afternoon, when I started listening to this amazing collection of rock music from Zambia…. this producer named Egon discovered Rikki Ililonga’s music through a friend and made it his mission to get his music out there and, oh gosh, I’m so glad he did…

Link: Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O Tunya’s “Dark Sunrise” on NPR’s “All Songs Considered.”

The L.A. Times on “Dark Sunrise” – “… an important reissue.

The L.A. Times had nothing but good things to say about our Rikki Ililonga and Musi-O-Tunya anthology Dark Sunrise. An excerpt from Randall Roberts’ piece:

“… an important reissue, and offers yet another glimpse into the sound of Africa in the 1960s and 70s. In the past half-decade, countless African crate-digger classics have been reissued, each another piece of the puzzle from a continent less archivally minded than most. But “Dark Sunrise” is a peak, and a vivid glimpse into a particular moment in time.”

Dr. Manasseh Phiri Breaks Down Zamrock on PRI’s “The World” (Audio Download)

Dr. Manasseh Phiri – the Zambian DJ who coined the term “Zamrock” around the release of Musi-O-Tunya’s Wings of Africa and WITCH’s Introduction – discusses and plays tracks from WITCH’s Lazy Bones on a recent episode of PRI’s “The World.” Listen as one of the movement’s first supporters reminisces and breaks down songs from this, WITCH’s masterpiece.

Download: Dr. Manasseh Phiri on WITCH’s Lazy Bones.
Buy Lazy Bones here.
Read more about our Zambian Psych reissues here.