PULO NDJ

An exploration of traditional Chadian music with an electronic twist

HAPE COLLECTIVE FIRST MUSIC PRODUCTION CAME OUT OF CHAD!

Chad is rarely on the spotlight of today's global musical conversation. Overlooked, misunderstood and misrepresented, outside observers rarely concede the country an autonomous voice over its past, present or future. Pulo NDJ found its inspiration in the country un-narrated diversity and set out to explore the possibilities offered by technology to demonstrate how the rich heritage connects with existing musical conversations.

Pulo NDJ

Born in 2017, the band Pulo NDJ praises N’Djamena, with its well-kept stories of boundary-breaking musical collaborations and thirst for experimentation, a city that reflects the country's diversity; it celebrates the arid North of Chad, bordering the Sahara, where nomadic tribes revere the endless desert with their handcrafted instruments; it sings the South, lush and tropical, where the frenetic drumming of local initiation ceremonies blend with sounds of neighboring Congo and Cameroon.

 
Pulo NDJ - Desert to Douala front.jpg
 

Pulo NDJ’s debut album, Desert To Douala was released on March 29th on Wonderwheel Recordings. It contains hopeful, life-affirming songs documenting the human experience in this overlooked corner of the world. The garaya, a traditional string instrument used by the shepherds of the region, brings desert vibes to the record. The hypnotic balafon, ancestral chants and tam-tam patterns are blended with subtle electronica. African-pop vibes complete the picture.

 

Have a look at our reviews on:

  • The Guardian “from Chad, there’s more subtle fusion…” (read)

  • Songlines, 5 stars review, Page 81, Issue 148, June 2019

  • Songlines, Jamming in N’Djamena, Page 11, Issue 147, May 2019

  • France Info, "Desert to Douala" : un album de musique né de la rencontre entre des artistes africains et un DJ de New York (read)

  • Afropop Worldwide, Chadian Musicians Meet Nickodemus and HAPE Collective (read)

  • African Daily Voice, Pulo NDJ, un groupe fondé au Tchad qui allie… (read)

  • Pan African Music, Les 30 meilleurs albums du début d’année 2019 (read)

  • Mojo UK, Review on printed edition, May 2019

  • R'n'R Magazine, 4 stars review, Issue 75, May 2019

  • Internazionale, Desiderio Elettronico, Issue 1300, 29 March 2019

  • Liberation, La playlist du Cahier Musique, 26 Avril (read)

  • Music in Africa, Desert to Douala, un opus à l'image de N'djamena (read)

  • Les Oreilles Curieuses, Pulo NDJ – Desert to Douala (read)

  • Rumore, 7/8 review, Issue 328, May 2019

  • Blow Up, 80/100 review, Issue 252, May 2019

  • MusicMap, Start your engines with Pulo NDJ (read and stream)

  • DLSO, Fatti un viaggio con Pulo NDJ e la sua Bazaka (read)

  • DJOLO, Clandoman de Pulo NDJ, un premier titre en hommage aux motos-taxis (read)

  • Griot, ‘Desert to Douala’ | L’album di debutto dei PULO NDJ mette la musica del Ciad sulla mappa (read here and here)

  • Majalla, Pulo NDJ, allie la musique traditionnelle afro avec l’électro (read)

  • Maxoe, Pulo NDJ : Le clip ‘Clandoman’ extrait de l’album… (read)

And listen to:

  • RFI, Musiques du Monde: De Solange à Pulo NDJ, la playlist de Sophian Fanen et l’électro de Ndjaména, (stream here)

  • RFI, World Music Matters, interview (read and stream here)

  • Radio Nova, Néo Géo, interview, March, 31st (stream here and read here)

  • France Culture, Les Cahiers de la Création: Rencontre à N'Djamena, de l'electro du collectif Hape à la musique traditionnelle afro de Pulo NDJ (stream here)

  • RFI, Au tour de la table, to be broadcast in June

  • Radio Raheem, Interview by , March, 23rd (stream here)

  • Radio Kiosk, Dj set w/ Nickodemus  (stream here)