1.Growing Up
I grew up in a musical family in Ethiopia. I began performing at a young age and it’s always been a part of my life.
2. Inspirations
Many great Ethiopian musicians such as Tilahun Gessesse and Ephrem Tamiru. Growing up in Ethiopia, I also used to listen to foreign music such as Bob Marley and the legendary Sudanese singer, Mohammed Wardi.
3. Your Band
We all met in Sydney, where the band is based. We are of the same generation and we’re brought together by our love of exploring older Ethiopian music and finding what we can bring to it as modern musicians.
4. The Music You Make
I recorded three albums in Ethiopia. The first was recorded when I was 17 with a group called Bolelloch. The next was Wollo, which was a number one hit. When I came to Melbourne, I recorded Drums And Lions with Nicky Bomba. Then I moved to Sydney and teamed up with Tony Buchen to record the album Dereb The Ambassador, which was inspired by Ethiopian music of the ’60s and ’70s. Volume II, which will be coming out soon, features the single ‘Fikera’, which we’ll be launching this week.
5. Music, Right Here, Right Now
The music scene is really diverse in Sydney and it is great that you can hear many types of music. We have so many talented musicians here. They just need to be heard!
Dereb The Ambassador, plays The Basement onFriday January 29,along withAstronafrica.
