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Members of Kina Zore, a Boston-based band led by Helder Tsinine, play some fairly uncommon devices of their 2023 Tiny Desk Contest submission, “Covid 19.” Along with Tsinine on guitar and Galen Willett on bass, you see band members enjoying pots and pans, pouring water and using jars of jam, pickles and even protein powder as drums. The band’s distinctive method to creating its tune is a part of what made it stand out to this yr’s Contest judges (together with Sharon Van Etten, who included the entry in an episode of Tiny Desk Contest High Shelf). It is one among a handful of spectacular entries Weekend Version is that includes this summer time.
Tsinine says the thought for the entry got here naturally to the band members, who’ve been enjoying music collectively since 2009. “We have been within the kitchen speaking about submitting to the Contest and thought, ‘we must always simply document it proper right here!’,” he shares.
Sung in Tsinine’s native language of Ronga, the tune “Covid 19” displays upon the on a regular basis struggles many confronted throughout lockdown, and likewise acknowledges that some have been dealing with a lot greater challenges, like warfare. He says he had the thought for the tune whereas listening to NPR sooner or later — he heard a reporter speaking about quite a few main conflicts all through the world and it put his personal lockdown expertise into perspective. Tsinine says the tune’s chorus, “Sekelekane Mu Nyhima” means “please arise and salute the medical doctors, academics and troopers who put their life on the road to assist everybody in want.”
Tsinine additionally make clear the experiences and musical influences that form his artwork. He grew up in Mozambique in the course of the civil warfare and says he named the group Kina Zore in an effort to revive a forgotten conventional Mozambique dance by the identical title. He did not develop up with any devices — he improvised with no matter he might discover, very like his Contest entry video — however was fascinated by conventional African devices and American rock musicians. Ultimately he started enjoying guitar, and describes his musical model as a mix of these influences.
