No, we were not in disguise on the latest edition of the ‘Chanters Lodge Experience with the Milli Jam Ingredient featuring Kaufela’ but the two young men shown in the picture above, whose real names are Tobias Maliseni (left) and Chisenga Chashi are musicians who go by the name ‘Camouflage’. “How did you come up with that name?” Milli Jam wanted to know at the top of the show, and the boys said the name came about because of the different patterns to their music. They had been together for about 10 years having met at an audition at another radio station in Livingstone when they were schoolboys.

The boys explained that their third album (12 tracks) which will be entitled ‘Chimawama’ meaning ‘It’s Nice’ was scheduled for release in January 2013. We featured one track from the new album on the show – ‘Panga Ishobe’ meaning, apparently, ‘mind your own business’ – or words to that effect. Good track. We also featured their biggest hit ‘Yonse’ – “it’s a national anthem” said Cheeseman. ‘Cheeseman?’ I hear you query – Chisenga’s nickname! Tobias is ‘Toby Zambiano’! smh

Camouflage told listeners that life as young musicians in Zambia is pretty tough. They had in the past played shows with Amayenge, Danny and Burning Youth, all well known Zambian acts. They had also played outside Zambia in Tanzania. They described the biggest obstacles in their career as ‘piracy’ (illegal copying of tracks) and the poor receipts they receive from record producers. In fact they said that the music industry in Zambia is not yet ‘an industry’ as such but it still ‘just art’. They also felt that preference was always given to Lusaka artists on radio in Zambia and artists from Livingstone such as themselves got a ‘raw deal’. Some of the Zambian acts they admire are Nasty D, Danny and Mampi.

Apart from Camouflage’s great tracks we featured music from James Arthur, Rihanna, Sean Kingston and Miguel on the show. The oldie of the week was a Don Williams number (If Hollywood Don’t Need You, Honey I Still Do) and the prize we give away each week of a dinner for two at the lodge, to the first person to text us the name of the artist on the track, was quickly snapped up. Our pick of the week was a more recent country release ‘Goodbye In Your Eyes’ from the Zac Brown Band. We closed with Will.i.am and Britney Spears. Our show is known locally for its great musical mix! You can see why!

Chisenga told listeners that he’s the local chair of Zambia Association of Musicians and was doing his best to improve the lot of his members. Neither of the boys are married but Chisenga has a 10 year old daughter.  He likes ragga and Manchester United while Tobias prefers reggae and Chelsea. ‘Oh’ we said. Tobias has a brother who is a presenter on Zambezi 107.7 fm. They were grateful to Contact Trust Youth Association and Kaufela who had both helped with the production of their first album.

Asked where they would like to be and what they would like to be doing in ten years’ time, Toby said he would like to be an entrepreneur owning a record company and to have a hit single, while Chisenga said he hoped to have made Livingstone a better known place.

We are always happy to feature and promote local Livingstone and Zambian artists on our show.