Borrowed Time was inspired by a drum beat that Mariam Namuyodi, the drummer of my backing band, came up with while I was auditioning for band members in Kampala, Uganda. As soon as I got home that day, I recorded the beat as best as I could and built up a new song from there over several week when time permits.
A little backstory: I have always wanted to collaborate with Msafiri Zawose, the leading proponent of the music of his tribe, the Wagogo,and a highly regarded artist in his field, after being turned on to one of his songs, Africa, featured off the LP, Mbotela. I first met and saw him perform at a music festival hosted by the Red Monkey Lodge at Zanzibar, Tanzania in 2017 and we have kept in touch ever since. This culminated in a visit to his studio at Bagamoyo,Tanzania in 2018.
Back to the present,I sent him a demo of the song as soon as it was ready and he pretty much worked his magic beyond my expectations! I thought his contribution brought the song to a whole new level.
i must mention that my regular collaborator, Ryan Lerigo-Jones, did a fine job of reinterpreting the drum beat that originally came with the song. He is the unspoken hero of getting this song on a strong foundation.
Asante sana Msafiri Zawose for graciously giving me the opportunity to collaborate with you; I hope that we will do so again some time soon. This single will be part of my upcoming debut EP album to be released in August this year.
-Alifchief
Kampala, Uganda
lyrics
LYRICS
Standing here on my own,
at this moment with you,
Will I see you again?
After all we've been through?
Memories,
let them be,
They will leave you behind,
If you see,
Finally,
That you are on borrowed time.
There's a need to be free,
From the choices you make.
If you can set your mind,
To the heart of the sun.
Walk with me,
let it be,
Leave your worries behind,
Then you'll see,
Eventually,
That you are on borrowed...
Time won't wait for you and me,
This is your chance to be,
You will see that you believe,
This is the way to be.
credits
from Alifchief (EP),
track released June 15, 2020
Msafiri's parts recorded at Art Promoters Foundation (AFP) Studio in Bagamoyo,Tanzania. Drums recorded at Ryan Lerigo-Jones Drum Recording in Worcester,UK. All other instruments/parts recorded and mixed at my home studio in Kampala, Uganda. Mastering session done in Brunei.
PERSONNEL
Alif "Alifchief" Ahmad .... vocals, electric guitar & bass guitar.
Msafiri Zawose .... ilimba and percussion
Ryan Lerigo-Jones .... drums
Music & lyrics by Alifchief
Mixed by Alifchief
Mastered by Elisha Tiga
Cover art & art direction by Azran Yusof
Original pictures of artists by Jay M. Johar and Msafiri Zawose
Thank you to the following friends and fans who have made the commercial release of Borrowed Time possible (in no particular order):
Phil Evans
Jacky McLaren
Philipos Philipidis
Teah Abdullah
Rina Zaini
Ampuan Hamid (Midi)
Alessandro Camilotti
Muiz Ali Yusri
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