Once upon a time, in a dark and mysterious realm, there lived a powerful witch and a charming vampire. The witch, named Morgana, was known throughout the land for her skilled potion-making and mastery of spells. She was feared and respected by all who crossed her path. On the other hand, the vampire, named Viktor, was intriguingly handsome and possessed an irresistible charm. However, despite his good looks, he struggled to find acceptance in the human world due to his dark nature and thirst for blood. He had grown tired of his immortal existence and longed for companionship.
He had grown tired of his immortal existence and longed for companionship. One fateful night, fate brought Morgana and Viktor together. Realizing their shared loneliness and similar desire for acceptance, they formed an unlikely alliance.
WITCH: KCRW Live from HQ
Over 50 years have passed since Zamrock (Zambian rock) greats WITCH (We Intend To Cause Havoc) recorded their groundbreaking debut LP, Introduction. The record established the band as scions of the genre, unleashing a signature blend of traditional African instrumentation with Western influences like psych-rock, blues, and funk.
Following tumultuous years of line-up and career changes, the legendary band returns at last with the freshly released LP Zango (out now via Desert Daze Sound). The album features the group’s founding bandleader Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda in collaboration with keyboard virtuoso Patrick Mwondela, who briefly succeeded him during Jagari’s extended leave of absence from WITCH.
Click in for electrifying renditions of Zango cuts like the cosmically-reaching “Waile” and the eviscerating hard-rock jam “Stop The Rot.” Plus, read on as Jagari breaks down the band’s complex backstory in conversation with KCRW’s Travis Holcombe.
The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
KCRW: Can you take us back to when you recorded your first record, Introduction, in 1972? What was going on in your home country of Zambia, and what was going on in your own life?
Jagari: We didn't have facilities for recording in my country, so a lot of good bands that existed at the time could not record. They didn't have the opportunity to [record music] like my band had. And we had only one radio station in Zimbabwe.
We had music from Europe, music from America, and some parts of Africa. And of course, we also had our own traditional music. In my country, we have about 72 ethnic groups. In terms of language, it's a bit negative [to have] too many languages in the same country. But from my point of view, that’s a very big repertoire of traditional stuff. [What] you get from public domain, you can match with the Western music. The [biggest] difference is that the Western music is wider — you have about 12 halftones in the atomic scale. … Our strength is in simple rhythms, criss crossing, and making a result that sounds a bit complicated. This gives us a very strong base for rhythmic patterns. We wanted to play rock! That’s what we heard on the radio, that’s what we heard people play.
Can you tell us about “Zamrock” in your own words? It’s a fusion of musical styles that you basically invented, right?
It took a long time for us to settle on “Zamrock.” We were calling it “Zambiano…” all sorts of names because we didn't know which one to pick. One of our friends is the one who coined the term “Zamrock.” He’s a physician, but [at the time] he was doing part time DJing with the National Broadcasting.
Let’s break down the history of WITCH a little more, you were involved with the band’s first five albums, and then you stepped down for a while. Where did you go? Were you pursuing other musical opportunities?
[In conversation with the leader of a band we opened for] I found out that he had a diploma from London School of Music. That's what caused me to apply for training at the only college that offered music, but it offered music with the condition that if you're government sponsored in that program, [after] graduation, you needed to teach in government schools for two years. So upon graduation, I sneaked out of the country and went to join the band in Zimbabwe until I was found out. I had not reported for work as a teacher. So I came back to Zambia to take up my new job, and that coincided with the pandemic we had that time — HIV and AIDS. [There were] curfews and blackouts in the country which were detrimental to the progress of Zamrock. If you wanted to play at night you [had to] go into the venue at 6 p.m., and you could only come out the following day at 6 a.m. Only a machine would play that.
While the following season seven wouldn’t have a Halloween episode, season six gives us two, and it all starts with the premier. Sabrina and her college roommates are all putting together a horror movie about pretty cheerleaders and one sinister vampire. Everything for once seems to be going great, the production is good, the sets are solid, the script is finalized and the cast is complete . that is with the one exception of their leading vampire.
Morgana saw potential in Viktor's ability to blend in with humans due to his hypnotic powers. Meanwhile, Viktor saw Morgana's ancient wisdom and magical abilities as a way to overcome his immortality. As they spent more time together, their bond grew stronger, and they discovered remarkable synergy in their combined powers. Morgana taught Viktor how to control his thirst and find satisfaction in alternative ways, such as feeding on animal blood. In return, Viktor used his charms to help Morgana infiltrate human gatherings and gather information for her secret magical missions. However, not everyone was pleased with their union. Vampire hunters pursued Viktor relentlessly and viewed Morgana as a dark force to be extinguished. The couple faced numerous challenges and dangers as they pushed the boundaries of acceptance in a world that shunned them. But Morgana and Viktor refused to be defeated. Together, they combated evil, helping innocent humans and supernatural beings alike. Their adventures took them to far-off lands and enchanted realms as they fought for justice and acceptance. Eventually, Morgana and Viktor's efforts paid off as their actions shattered stereotypes and broke down barriers. Through their example, they showed that despite their differences, love and friendship can conquer all. In the end, Morgana and Viktor became an inspiration to others like them, proving that true acceptance and understanding could be found even in the darkest of places. Their story served as a reminder that embracing diversity and standing up against prejudice can create a brighter and more harmonious world for all..
Reviews for "Forbidden Desires: The Witch and the Vampire's Seductive Affair"
1. John - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Witch and the Vampire" after hearing so many positive reviews, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot felt underdeveloped and predictable, and the characters were one-dimensional. The writing lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader. Overall, it lacked the sophistication and complexity I was expecting from a fantasy novel.
2. Sarah - 1/5 - "The Witch and the Vampire" was a complete waste of my time. The storyline was cliche and unoriginal, making it impossible to get invested in the characters or their struggles. The dialogue was poorly written and felt forced, making it difficult to believe in the supposed chemistry between the main characters. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating fantasy read.
3. Robert - 2/5 - I found "The Witch and the Vampire" to be a disappointment. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the scenes dragged on without advancing the plot. The author failed to create a believable fantasy world, and the magic system felt poorly explained and inconsistent. The book lacked the excitement and suspense that I was hoping for, and I struggled to finish it. Overall, it did not live up to the hype surrounding it.
4. Emily - 3/5 - While "The Witch and the Vampire" had its moments, I felt like the story fell short of its potential. The characters showed promise, but their development was shallow and left much to be desired. The romance between the witch and the vampire felt forced and lacked chemistry. Additionally, the world-building was lacking, leaving me with many unanswered questions. Overall, it was an average read but didn't leave a lasting impression.
5. David - 2/5 - "The Witch and the Vampire" failed to hold my interest. The plot lacked originality and felt like a combination of overdone cliches and tired tropes. The pacing was slow, and I found myself disengaged from the story. The writing style was also lacking, leaving me feeling detached from the characters and their struggles. Overall, it was a forgettable read that did not live up to my expectations.