Their third studio album, titled Live and Die in Afrika, released online on 21st November 2015, was available to Sauti Sol fans globally for free download for 48 hours as an early Christmas present. The album was released under their imprint label Sauti Sol Entertainment as a self-produced work by Sauti Sol. A total of 400,000 downloads were made during the free download period.
Sauti Sol has steadily built its professional international experience. In 2016’s most notable live performance include Swaziland’s Bushfire Festival, Mozambique’s Azgo Festival, and at 2baba’s Disruption Africa (Kenya concert). Sauti Sol’s 2015 notable showcases include a performance at the 2015 Global Citizen Festival alongside international acts Pearl Jam and Chris Martin (Coldplay), performing at the Milan Expo 2015, a 2015 #SautiSolRoad2BET American Tour (Washington DC, Minneapolis MN, Atlanta GA, Seattle, Dallas TX, New Jersey, and Los Angeles CA), headlining at 2015 KigaliUp Festival, Sauti Sol Live in Kampala Concert, Sauti Sol Live in Dar es Salaam (Party in the Park 2015), Las Vegas Sauti Sol Valentines Show at the Hard Rock Café, Kenya’s Koroga Festival, Tanzania’s Jembeka Party and Dubai’s Industry Nite, among others. In 2014, they performed at Blankets & Wine at 50 Festival (Kenya), Zanzibar International Film Festival, among shows in Europe. In 2013, they also headlined at the Boombaataa Festival (Kenya) and City of Stars Festival (Malawi).
A tour through Europe in 2010 took Sauti Sol to Sweden where they made a television appearance and recorded their sophomore album, Sol Filosofia. In February 2012 they debuted at the Festival sur le Niger in Mali where they were performed alongside some of their African idols: Habib Koite, Salif Keita, and Lokua Kanza. In 2011 and 2012 the band performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. In June same year, they performed at the Karlovy Vary International film festival and Colours of Ostrava 2012, the Czech Republic’s biggest music festival. Between Sept-Dec 2012, Sauti Sol signed with Kenya’s Niko Na Safaricom Live Tour transporting their renowned electric live performances to their fans in major Kenyan towns and cities.
Sauti Sol has also performed at widely televised events including the MTV Africa Music Awards (2015 & 2014), Kenya’s 51st Independence Day (2014), inauguration of Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta (2013), Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards held in Nigeria (2013) and at Big Brother Africa Reality Show in South Africa (2012).
Let us get to know them on a Personal Level
Sauti Sol members The band was formed in the year 2005 in Nairobi by the vocalists Willis Chimano, Bien-Aime Baraza, and Savara Mudigi. The band was initially an acapella group and the guitarist, Polycarp Otieno had been a member of the band before they altered the name of their group to Sauti. It was the first of November when they have released their debut solo album named Mwanzo, after which they released their next album named Sol Filosofia on 25th of February 2011. The group has received quite a good amount of nominations during the process as well.
Bien-Aime Baraza
Source – Sauti Sol Official Baraza is the songwriter, vocalist as well as the guitarist who was born on 28 December 1987, that makes him a sweet 30 years old. One thing unique about him is his unique soulful singing style which is very much enjoyable. Bien was a student at the United States International University where he studied Journalism and Media Studies and graduated in the year 2011. The name Bien-Aime stands for ‘beloved’ in French. He has been an active member of the group along with the creation of two albums by Sauti Sol which were: Mwanzo in 2008 and Sol Filosofia in 2011. He is also known to have written for artists like Wendy Kimani, Elani, and Amos & Josh. Baraza says about his songs from his first two major albums Sol Filosofia and Mwanzo, “I love to write songs. And women inspire me. My thought process equates songs to women; to an extent, I call our songs my women. Lizzi is the hot girl at the bar. Zosi is a good sweet girl who goes to church. Mama Papa and Soma Kijana are the voices of my mother.” “While on stage, these hit singles are among my trophies. Some women like Wera, Subira, Mapacha, Awinja, and Asubuhi are wife material–girls who knew me in the hood before the lights, camera, and action. They remind me of Sauti Sol days before success and the magical struggle that our music has been. They are a show for sacrifice and represent the road we’ve treaded.”
Willis Austin Chimano
Source – Mpasho Willis is a vocalist, saxophone as well as Keytar player. Because of his astonishing flamboyant style, the 31-year-old with his deep voice is what makes him a unique member. During his French studying, he had won the annual Fete de la Musique competition right at the French Cultural Centre. When the competition ended, Chimanowent to Paris for some experience. While at Paris, he obtained a two-week experience in sampling new music translations. Chimano has always been active in the band, he has also successfully taken an active part in the creation of two Sauti Sol albums named Sol Filosofia and Mwanzo. He is the current producer and the guitarist of the band. Chimano graduated with a degree in Journalism & Media Studies from the University of Nairobi. Chimano says the following, “I met Sauti Sol members individually in three different scenarios. And it’s the dynamics of how we all came together as a band that still baffle me irrespective of the fact that three of us were in the same high school. It was pure serendipity that despite different career dreams, music brought us together in a way inexplicable.”
Polycarp Otieno
Source – Mpasho Otieno is a producer as well as a guitarist who was born on 14th November 1987, that makes this Sauti Sol member’s age 31 years. He got free guitar lessons at the All Saints Cathedral, it is then when his love for guitar had picked up speed. However, his guitar lessons came to an end after which he did resume playing, along with his French studies at the French Cultural Centre. The guitar riffs he makes is awesome, they blend in perfectly with the drum rhythm and the soulful mix of the group. Polycarp had been a student of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, where he attained a degree in Actuarial Science. Polycarp has also remained active in the band for the production of Sol Filosofia and Mwanzo. He has worked with a lot of famous musicians which include: Dela and Suzanna Owiyo. Polycarp says, “Since my childhood days, I have loved music. In fact, it was my best subject in class while at primary school. At some point, I even made guitars out of containers and strings, not knowing that I would one day be a guitarist.”
Savara Mudigi
Source – Nairobi. Wire Among all the Sauti Sol names, Savara is undoubtedly very much talented. He is a producer, vocalist, actor, drummer, as well as a DJ. He is 31 years old and has great contributions towards the establishment of Sauti Sol Entertainment, both during tours as well as during productions. Most of the songs of the album ‘Live and Die in Afrika’ were produced by Savara, collaborating with ‘Mr Fancy Fingers’ or Otieno. Savara has also worked side-by-side with numerous artists such as Elani, and since, then he has been networking with famous DJs and International producers. Savara had been a student of Nazarene University of East Africa in the year 2012. Savara says, “I write music differently as compared to any other artists out there. Much as my music will rule the world, heroism and power are at the least of my priorities. I simply want people to feel what I feel when am doing my music.” Most of the Sauti Sol members age-similar as they fall in the same age group maybe that’s what that makes their group so collaborative and exciting.
Networth:
They are still making money, we will disclose as soon as we get that information
A wild guess would be 20, 000,000 million kenya shillings
