Biography
Egyptian Nursery are Craigie, Ariane and Mojama. Craigie (originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne in England) and Ariane (the Mauritian in the mix) met one night in July 1995 and, in an indication of how instantly these two creative forces gelled, wrote and recorded their first song before the sun had peeped over Johannesburg's skyline the next morning. "We think it was called Vision," Ariane says, with a smile that recalls that intense first night.
Like many Africans before him, Mojama had travelled down to South Africa on his search to find the perfect studio and producer to record his African-inspired hip-hop in a way that would enhance the impact of this different yet powerful sound. He found that in Craigie and the two swiftly wrote and recorded three tracks for Mojama's solo album. Along the way, Craigie and Ariane worked with the widely respected Dan Kapueja of Spirit Wall, adding a new, yet obviously organic, reggae influence to their work. And when Craigie and Ariane drew Mojama into the mix and began fleshing out the sound that belongs uniquely to Egyptian Nursery, the band had a true sense of having found their perfect musical partners.
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A defining feature of Egyptian Nursery is the way the group has evolved entirely in studio, unusual for a South African band which tend to tread the live circuit as the first step to getting into recording. The studio in this case was no elaborate, cutting-edge mega set-up. Most of New Anthem was recorded in Craigie's bedroom and other small spaces. It's a real measure of Craigie's musical wizardry that the album's production is beautifully executed, precise and of real international quality.
It's the songs, however, that are the real driving force on this album.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.