SHE Spells Doom Mixx
Next up in our Origins Tapes series is Zambian Artist Wamya Tembo, who rocketed onto the electronic scene with his musical moniker 'SHE Spells Doom' in 2014 and has been a mainstay ever since.
SHE Spells Doom's sound holds a plethora of influence: everything from Congolese Rhumba and early 00s Rap to strong House and Techno influences can be heard in their sound. They create music that is often interlaced with a deep love of 80s sci-fi and horror movies, which brings a deeper and darker edge to both their club and experimental cuts.
SHE Spells Doom's releases spans worldwide via labels such as NEVER DECAY, Monstart, and NY’s Créme Records. His electric sets and recorded mixes will have you breaking a sweat from either dancing beginning to the end or getting chills from his electrifying sound design.
With all that being said, we are excited to have SHE Spells Doom join us for Tapes #16 and we firmly believe that 2021 is going to be his best yet!
Tracklist
Tangerine Dream - Truth And Fiction
SHE Spells Doom - End (The Garden)
Dinamo Azari - Jade Helm (feat. Sylvermayne)
Ploy - Clubtek
DJ Nigga Fox - Talanzele
Aryu Jassika - Something Else Piano
Donzer - Sous Mon Matelas (SHE Spells Doom Remix)
Bala Bala Boyz - Mafuta
SHE Spells Doom - Vega Tool
Markus Mann - Self Snitching
See Motion (AKA Mojek) - LittleFoot
SHE Spells Doom - Drums of Affliction
Strick - Caffeine Ethos
Rose Bonica - Disengage
Gage - This Won't Take A Minute
Kowton - On Repeat
Bobmo - Crushed
Emiranda - Music (Time Out)
Hi Wamya, how are you this week?
Hi Lucy! I'm doing great, thanks - just keeping busy. Hope you're great too.
I would love to start off with the basics - what are the origins of your own sound and what you play today?
The origins of my current sound and what I play today is pretty much an amalgamation of my influences - my love for sci-fi/horror from the 80s and 90s, my time making rap beats in my teens, the interest in Electronic music and club culture I picked up when I moved to Switzerland and my exposure to African music and rhythms as a kid, and now with Coupé-Décalé, Gqom, and Amapiano. The music I make is me trying to put this all together without it seeming disjointed or forced.
Growing up and living in Zambia, can you tell us about the club scene there? What sets it apart to you?
I think Zambia's location in the continent (Central Southern Africa) has played a part in us having access to sounds/vibes from the countries around us. It really makes for a diverse clubbing experience, as far as exposure to different kinds of African music goes. You get to hear what's going on locally but also hear what our neighbours are up to, musically.
You have lived between Geneva, Switzerland, and Lusaka, Zambia - how much does your location usually affect the music you make and play?
I'm more productive when I'm in Geneva because there are more spaces for Electronic music and there's more of a scene, with artists doing similar things and I have more of a chance to play out, so I'm inspired to come up with tracks I can test in the club. Electronic music's bubbling in Zambia right now but there's no demand for the kind I play or make just yet - S/O to El Mukuka, Ms. Selfie, Kreative Nativez, and Sebastian Dutch who are out pushing things forward when it comes to music/events centered around Electronic music.
Talk to us a bit about your mix, what was the thought process, who are you playing and why?
For this mix, I tried to draw a map of my influences/give a hint of the styles I'm interested in exploring as a producer. That's what I usually set out to do when I mix cause I feel like everything's interlinked anyway since we pretty much all use similar DAWs/plugins and share influences, thanks to the internet. I've included tracks by Gage, Mojek (AKA See Motion), Strick, and other artists I feel combine a myriad of styles and influences to create really amazing work - something I always strive for, with my own work.
During COVID 19 have you found any significant changes to your production style?
Sure! I got a Nord Rack 2 and Digitone during lockdown (when I was in Geneva). I’ve been spending time learning how to make sounds from scratch and I've found myself making quieter music and playing around with slower tempos - I’ve been making bits for imaginary film scores from time to time. lol. Also been practicing how to make beats with enough room for vocalists to do their thing - I'm really trying to get some collaborations in.
Has there been anything you have learned about yourself as a musician or reflected on in the past year that you did not know before?
I think the biggest lesson I've learned as a musician and a human being is not to be a stickler for plans. Leaving room for spontaneity has definitely helped me cut down on stress and work much quicker, creatively.
Who are artists you currently look to for inspiration or joy?
They are quite a lot, from different parts of the world - S/O to Jaymie Silk, Circuit 900, BAE BAE, Karen Nyame KG, Ase Manual, Marvelito, DJ Nativesun. It's really been inspiring to hear what's going on in South Africa, being a bit closer to Zambia - S/O to blaqkongo, Rose Bonica, Sunsunus, X14, ODOUS, FRNGE and Swak Catalogue (Jumping Back Slash and Aryu Jassika).
You have previously expressed love for 80’s sci-fi, do you have any specific recommendations for anyone wanting to discover more?
A bit tricky cause I love a lot but off the top, I'd recommend these:
- Videodrome
- Altered States
- Night of the Comet
- The Blob (1988 remake)
- Prince of Darkness
- From Beyond
- Robocop
- Heavy Metal
- Firestarter
- Big Trouble in Little China (would say it's Fantasy but it's my absolute favourite).
- The Fly (1986 remake)
Over the whole span of your career to date, what has been your favourite release so far?
My favourite release is Jacuzzi Jam Junction on Creme Records, because it was my first release on a label. The label owner, Cream Dream (Teddy) has been a friend for a while, and seeing how much he believed in what I did really set things in motion as far as me getting serious about releasing music as SHE Spells Doom goes.
Whats next for SHE Spells Doom?
Right now I'm putting the finishing touches on an EP for All Centre. Cutting some demos for potential releases on labels I love, not gonna say names so I don't jinx it. lol! Also working on an EP with a French rapper called Donzer. Our first collab, Sous Mon Matelas (SHE Spells Doom Remix) is out now.
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Interview by @lcy__________