Boston — Marie Dauln,leader singer of Zap Mama, strode onto the stage looking regal in 5-inch chunky heel gold glitter covered go-go boots, flowing purple robe with one side riding half-way up her thigh and aviator sunglasses hiding her mischievous yet intense gaze. Her syncopated vocal work blended perfectly with those of the other beautiful women who shared between them the singing, synthesizing, bass and flute playing. Three men: a DJ, drummer and lead guitarist completed the band that took an expectant audience through a mélange of musical styles beautifully packaged in two words: Zap Mama. Playing songs like "Rafiki," "African Sunset" and "Yelling Away," the band artfully blended a cappella, beat boxing, soukous, soul and hip hop and communicated with the audience so uniquely that they simply had to return to the stage after the thunderous cry for an encore.
In addition to their fifth album, "Ancestry In Progress" released in September this year, Zap Mama joined The Woman Tour to raise awareness and funds for women in Africa with fistula - a debilitating birth complication that although largely preventable is still prevalent in certain parts of the continent. AllAfrica sat down with Marie to talk about her life and the music embodied in Zap Mama.
Why the name Zap Mama?
Mama? Everyone came from a mama, and zapping means to move around, from one culture to another. We are zapping and everyone can identify with a mama.
How did it all come together and how has it been holding?
I started it. I held auditions and then selected the people. And since then we play and feel each other's sounds.
You moved from Belgium to the U.S. in 2000. Why?
In 2000 we moved because the demand for Zap Mama was here, we saw it and we came.
You toured with Erykah Badu and featured on Ancestry in Progress as well as performing with Talib Kweli and Common, basically the Okayplayer family. How did that come about?
Eryka called me and said, I want to be your friend, i want to be on your album. Common was there and he too said the same thing. I said ok and we started work on songs. The bird of Zap Mama came flying, and then hip-hop and soul came around it.
Is there anything planned in the future with her or them or whom would you perhaps like to work with?
Ah. There is an upcoming album with her, but it's a secret. (Smiling) I won't say what's on it. With other artistes, I say never say maybe. "Jamais dire peut-être." Maybe? Yes, never say never, but never say maybe too. If you want to and can, just do it. No maybes, go for it.
On stage you all had amazing harmony. Where does your special blend ofvocals come from?
That harmony comes from being together, enjoying together. Each person brings something special into the mix and we feel each other and everyone adds their own harmony. And like that we create something special.
I read somewhere that those vocal syncopations are called polyphony, tell me about that, explain polyphony.
It comes from poly, meaning many and phony, sounds, many sounds. It's like, you have a sentence, I say one word, she says another and then she, and so on. Each person says a syllable or word and we say it one after the other like that "When-you-go-to-your-house." And then we continue and then it becomes (singing a different melody) "When-you-go-to-house" and on and on. It's like when I was a child and this game, I don't know if you have it here, that we played when we were little, one person starts a story, another continues, it goes round the circle, everybody adds their part and it comes out beautiful, its together but everyone has added to it.
I've asked other musicians about this as well; how do you feel about your music being called "world."?
In the beginning "world" was beautiful, now it has changed to mean third world, inaccessible and far from the urban world. But music takes everything and brings it together. The world is closer than most people realize and it includes urban sounds, you know. But like the way your blouse is from India, your belt from Mexico, jacket from maybe New York, that is a mix, and the world is like that - it is a blend of things and not one thing.
How would you classify your style?
I'm an artiste. I'm an artiste and I create music. I take bits of everything, use what is inside me to create something beautiful.
I hear different languages in your songs, what do you sing in?
There's English, French and ...? French, English, Lingala from Congo Kinshasha, and some Swahili.
Who do you listen to frequently or who are you influences?
Everything. I listen to everything when it's good. I have no preference, I like salsa, I like reggae, hip hop, everything. If there is music I don't like, I can appreciate it. It's like people - you can have racist people- it's not that I don't like them, i understand it as their problem, they hate some people, it affects who they are. I listen to what sounds good to me at that time.
So what is your inspiration?
Everything, day-to-day things. Being an artiste is not easy, especially for those around me, (laughs) like my children, I go into their world. I'm like a child, everything becomes animated to me. I'm always harmonizing, taking everyday things, and (sings another quick melody), I put it together. Like I ask the people tonight (to) jingle their keys and then I'm in the car driving, vroom, the everyday sounds.
Your children, how old are they and are they here with you?
I have two kids, 11 and 4 years old. They are in Belgium, with the family. My daughter is just about to begin middle school.
So is there a Zap Papa and is he in Belgium too?
Fathers, because I had each with a separate father. They are good fathers. They love their kids and that is the greatest thing. My mother taught me, that love is what a family needs, and my children's fathers (one in France and the other in Belgium) are great at that, being there for them and loving the children a lot.
Your mother is Congolese and your father Belgian, correct? When did you move to Belgium?
(With a smile) Yes, it was my mother who moved. I was the child. We moved when I was little from the Congo to Belgium.
And your family is all there right now?
Yes, my mother, brother, sisters, aunties, uncles.. ah non, I have uncles in Congo.
And are they involved in music too?
My brother is. He is a beat boxer. My sister teaches polyphony. Apart from that, no one is, but they appreciate music.
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How does being partly Congolese connect you to Africa or should I say how is that part of your heritage being manifested?
Deep inside me is an African Woman. There is a connection with the continent that is on oneself. You can have a European attitude, or I can have a European or an American attitude - but it's just a game. I have the Belgian part but I am an African woman, inside it all. My instincts are that of an African woman.
Your music has transitioned from a cappella to a mélange of hip hop, funk, beat boxing, soul etc. What was that transition like for you? As in was it a conscious change or it happened by itself, as your music evolved?
A cappella is a technique not a style. I was already singing reggae or the rest while using a cappella. People categorize it as a cappella but a cappella is a technique that mixes together everything. DJs use a cappella to create other sounds. Hip hop got interested in Zap Mama, and we decided to bring it to the urban world, to do different things and create something with everything so that what you hear is techniques put together.
How did you get involved with The Woman Tour?
Lisa (pointing at film producer Lisa Russell) chose the music, she contacted me, talked to Angie (manager) and arranged this tour. It was perfect.
What is your role in it and what has been the response?
The people watch Love, Labor, Loss and fistula; it is a very sad thing. But we do not need to pity Africa. I represent the African voice: when the people pay attention to me, they pay attention to Africa and they recognize that there is also beauty to enjoy - that Africa has something good, and that must be seen.
