Dumama is a Berlin-based South African sonic poet, composer, and artist who creates a mesmerizing fusion of psychedelic devotional soul music with an undercurrent of otherworldly spiritual jazz. She calls it “Nomadic Future Folk Music” and it's on full display on her unique debut album Towards An Expanse that came out via Soundway Records on May 8th.
Opening with the lines, "It's midnight, and I am Dumama. Join me as a made a take on what it means to be a voice, and what it means to have a voice," her immersive, hypnotic, and exceptional guest DJ mix is anchored in field recordings from the landscapes of South Africa and centered around unique vocal-centered songs. It's a "rich sonic tapestry where the human voice acts as both a sacred instrument and a cosmic thread. It is an auditory excavation; some intimate and strange midnight listening where raw field recordings and archival history brush against avant-folk, ambient jazz, and free-form electronic improvisations."
Dumama is currently running a GoFundMe to help support her Emergency Housing Security situation. You can support her here.
| Artist | Title |
|---|---|
| Midnight in a Perfect World | Intro |
| Field Recording | Cows and Cowbells (Recorded in the Eastern Cape) |
| June Tyson x Sun Ra | Astro Black |
| Field Recording | Nocturnal and Vocal Birds of Southern Africa (Recorded in the Eastern Cape & Cape Town) |
| Field Recording | Radio Search in my mom's car, Port Alfred South Africa |
| Dumama | Kukudea (Unreleased, recorded at Brewary Studios ft. Abase, Lukas AKintaya, El Congo, Sofia Efticidou, Mohammad Shabangu) |
| Hatis Noit | Jomon |
| Juana Molina | Lentissimo Halo |
| Dumama | Dadobawo (Unreleased, composed for Let Them Be Seen film score) |
| Field Recording | Nocturnal and Vocal Birds (Recorded in Cape Town) |
| Mixed Group of Young Mpondo Married Women | Bemka abafazi (From the Hugh Tracey South African Music Recordings) |
| The Wulu Bunun & David Darling | Ku-lsa Tama Laug (From the Tama Guélélou collection) |
| Field Recordings | Deep Under the Sea Hydrophone Recordings Indian Ocean Port Alfred |
| Alexis Pauline Gumbs | Reading from her book, Undrowned |
| Pamela Z | In the Other World |
| Dumama | The Bridge |
| Busi Mhlongo | Oxamu |
| Busi Mhlongo | Interview Audio |
| Imade Saputra | A Thai Wedding |
| SPAZA | 5 Rand Airtime Nama Ever Ready |
| SPAZA | Tiger Balm Nobuhlebakho |
| The Majestic Arrows | If I Had a Little Love (rehearsal) |
| Nyokabi Kariuki | Equator |
Midnight in a Perfect World, KEXP's weekly hour-long guest DJ show, airs Fridays at midnight. This multi-genre program features eclectic sets by a rotating cast of international and local DJ's, each building upon a party vibe to kick off your weekend. Midnight in a Perfect World is made possible with support from New Belgium Brewing.
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