Samito
Samito

by MacAndrew Clarke

On Thursday, February 15, for the first time in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre (NAC), Samito performed as part of the 2015-2016 Révélations Radio-Canada program which features talented artists with promising futures within the arts industry.

Samito is a musical artist who was born in Mozambique, spent some time in Cape Town, and moved to Montreal. I had the opportunity to catch up with Samito earlier that afternoon where we spoke on his upcoming show, the making of his new album, and his journey as an artist. During his time in Montreal, Samito dedicated himself to crafting an album that: “…will touch many people while sharing [his] own experiences…” from Mozambique to Montreal.

Samito describes his early experience in Montreal as challenging insofar as figuring out who he was, how people perceived him, and where he fit within the culture. “I discovered that I was in a tangled place between two very strong identities: the African (the mother of all arts and maths), and then this new world which is new and advanced…,” he said. For example, his music video, Tiku La Hina, was rendered to artistically convey that struggle in what he described as a “fragmented identity”. In an effort to bring together the fragments of his identity, the song blends Portuguese and Tswana lyrics, African rhythms, and strong electronic vibes that are met with vivid imagery of aspects reflecting North American and African culture. When asked why he strives to incorporate so much into his music, he replied that his objective is to prove that: “… [African people] can be sophisticated and we can bring grooves together that you’ve never heard in a way that you too will dig it; everyone will dig it.”

“… [African people] can be sophisticated and we can bring grooves together that you’ve never heard in a way that you too will dig it; everyone will dig it.” – Samito

“I want people to groove” said Samito in describing the kind of vibe he seeks to leave with guests at his concerts. Throughout the evening, his show maintained high energy, dance, and a very talented live band that seamlessly blended acoustic and electronic instruments within their sets. The various rhythms within were mixed and arranged in a manner that was distinctive while staying true to the overall groove of each song. In addition to Samito giving his all on stage, the musicians were also dancing, singing, and dropping amazing solos which gave the concert that classic live band feeling when everyone on stage is “in the pocket”.

Overall, Samito is an artist that is seeking to convey a message of togetherness through his music in that each song has various elements within it for everyone. His debut album, Xica Xica, which is scheduled to be released in May, is a project where he hopes he can contribute to breaking down the walls of preconceived notions surrounding immigrants and Africa. Information regarding concerts and his album can be found on his website.

About the writer

MacAndrew Clarke
MacAndrew Clarke

MacAndrew Clarke holds a B.A. (Hons) in Political Science from Carleton University. Fluently bilingual in English and French, he has  several years diverse communications and marketing experience from within the public, private, and non-profit sector. He can be reached at:  [email protected].