Body, Mind and Soul secures LoS spot

Northern Region music heavyweights Body, Mind and Soul are set to reclaim their spot on the music scene as they have secured a spot at this year’s Lake of Stars Arts Festival after impressing the event organisers during the festival’s launch at Mzuzu Coffee Den.

Evance Makupe, who is now leading the band in the absence of its leader Street Rat, told The Nation yesterday that the recognition to perform at this year’s Lake of Stars Arts Festival is a timely response to people writing the band’s obituary.
“Stories circulating now are that the band has disbanded. So we want to inform the public that the band is still alive and we will perform at this year’s festival,” said Makupe.
Speculations about the band’s death were rife after the departure of the band leader Street Rat who went to England last year to join his British wife.
This year’s Lake of Star Festival will be held at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi from September 25 to 27.
Apart from Lake of Stars performance, the band recently toured Tanzanian with live performances alongside Tanzanian top artists Ricco Singo and Black Diamond.
“We are focused and we are currently recording an album which will be released by the end of this year,” said Makupe.
Body, Mind and Soul started out as Souls of the Ghetto and has won several local awards including Kuche Kuche Music Awards.
With their album Kwacha Malawi, the group earned international recognition when they won the Music Crossroads Southern Africa Inter Regional Festival in Zimbabwe and went on a European tour in the summer of 2008 where they performed at different stages, including the world famous Coyleur Café.
The group is also well known for creating a new music concept called voojaz, a subtle mix of traditional rhythms with a jazzy feel.