45,000 Volts Ngozi Family

Field Notes

If you listen closely, you’ll always hear the echoes of the past. Recently, Tyler, the Creator reminded us of this when he sampled Nizakupanga by Ngozi Family, one of the foundational bands of Zamrock, a genre born in Zambia during the 60s and 70s. With the rise of acts like Khruangbin, psychedelic sounds are once again making waves in the music world, but Zamrock remains a unique movement all its own.

This genre blended Western rock influences—think Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix—with an unmistakable African flair, creating a distinctive, electric sound that is as raw as it is revolutionary. Listening to Zamrock is a reminder that music is a language all its own. Even if you don’t understand the lyrics, the voices themselves serve as instruments, their harmonies distorting and blending into a soulful, psychedelic haze.

Zamrock’s timeless quality offers the profound reminder that nothing is truly new under the sun—every sound, every movement, is built upon what came before. In the swirling riffs and blistering guitar solos, there’s a clear sense that the past, present, and future of music are always intertwined.