Don Laka launches new album in Ebony Park
EBONY PARK – Don Laka hosted an album launch for his new offering, Uno Mundo, an album he described as a call to action for people to become one people.
Don Laka launched his new album, Uno Mundo in Ebony Park on 5 November.
The jazz musician and legend uses the album to express his views on life as he reflects on the many social ills affecting the world. The album’s title is Portuguese for ‘one world’.
Talking to the Midrand Reporter, Laka said the 10-track album was a call for unity. “This project was inspired by musical influences and world ills, and one thing being people drifting away from each other forgetting that we live in one world.
“The earth is one, there might be many countries but the world is one, and that is the same one we all live in. So we are affected by many things, pollution being one of them, the Covid-19 pandemic – there is so much hate going around as well and so many bad happenings. Thus for me ‘one world’, Uno Mundo is a call for us to come together and become one people.”
Laka added that this release was not just a jazz album as it had many different influences. “I wanted to breach gaps with the young and the old people, it was influenced by other countries and music, the types of music being made now as well. We featured sounds from all over the world, South America sounds included, all the influences from all types of music made by other artists.
“Working on this project was a challenge, but it became successful.”
He said he had to record the album at home in his small studio due to Covid-19. “I had also lined up many many people to work with, unfortunately, because of the lockdown and the short space of time before its announcement, there was no way I could go anywhere. But I must say that I am happy to have used this time during the lockdown to carry out work on the album.”
Laka said he was planning on performing live shows and was strategising to ensure that they were safe. “Before embarking on doing live shows, I really want to see how we can do them while maintaining social distancing and being safe as people get excited and we forget that there is still a pandemic.”
Details: www.bokonemusic.com
