Awesome Tapes From Africa is a concept and label by ethnomusicologist Brian Shimkovitz from New York. Shimkovitz studied in Ghana in the early 2000s, found local tapes from street vendors and thought the music was exciting. He started a blog presenting the cassettes, and in 2011 he began reissuing some of them. Ethiopian Hailu Mergia, Ghanan Ata Kak and many other African artists have gathered a worldwide reputation via Awesome Tapes From Africa. In the last couple of years, the label’s focus has widened from history to the present; Shimkovitz now releases house, amapiano and other quality genres from contemporary African producers and artists. From clubs to festivals to DIY spaces, Awesome Tapes DJ sets celebrate the music and musicians whose cassettes Shimkovitz has collected over the years. His DJ sets on twin tape decks explore deep, regional sounds using analogue-anchored agility not heard or seen anywhere else.

**Awesome Tapes From Africa** is a concept and label by ethnomusicologist **Brian Shimkovitz** from New York. Shimkovitz studied in Ghana in the early 2000s, found local tapes from street vendors and thought the music was exciting. He started a blog presenting the cassettes, and in 2011 he began reissuing some of them. Ethiopian Hailu Mergia, Ghanan Ata Kak and many other African artists have gathered a worldwide reputation via Awesome Tapes From Africa. In the last couple of years, the label’s focus has widened from history to the present; Shimkovitz now releases house, amapiano and other quality genres from contemporary African producers and artists. From clubs to festivals to DIY spaces, Awesome Tapes DJ sets celebrate the music and musicians whose cassettes Shimkovitz has collected over the years. His DJ sets on twin tape decks explore deep, regional sounds using analogue-anchored agility not heard or seen anywhere else.

Awesome Tapes

English