A pioneering Zambian psychedelic act, W.I.T.C.H. (the name is an acronym, standing for We  Intend to Cause Havoc) were one of the defining acts of Zamrock, a fusion of Western rock and  rhythm & blues with traditional African sounds. They were among Zambia's most popular and  influential bands in the 1970s as a wave of psychedelic and hard rock gained an audience in  Africa. A landlocked nation in the South of Africa, Zambia was formerly Northern Rhodesia until  gaining its independence in 1964, and as Zambia established its own national identity, local  musicians began embracing the progressive influences of artists such as the Beatles, the Rolling  Stones, and Jimi Hendrix, as well as the forward-thinking soul and funk sounds of James Brown.  By the mid-'70s, Zambia was falling into political chaos as the nation's once-profitable mining  industry ran dry, and many Zamrock bands reflected this with a darker, more psychedelic influenced sound that suggested a familiarity with the likes of Deep Purple and Grand Funk  Railroad. W.I.T.C.H.'s 1972 debut, Introduction, was the first commercial album released by a  Zambian band, and they continued to deliver music until fading into dormancy in the mid-'80s. A  reissue campaign launched in 2011 brought the band to a new generation of listeners, and  W.I.T.C.H. reunited in 2014 and started touring again shortly thereafter. In 2023, they released  Zango, their first new album in almost 40 years. The original lineup of W.I.T.C.H. included vocalist  Emanyeo "Jagari" Chanda, guitarists Chris Mbewe and John Muma, bassist Gedeon Mulenga, and  drummer Boidi Sinkala, who were veterans of Zambian cover bands of the late '60s; Chanda  (whose nickname "Jagari" came from his fascination with Mick Jagger, one of his strongest  influences) had worked with the Red Balloons and the Boyfriends (the latter group would evolve  into another key Zamrock outfit, Peace), while most of the other members were members of  Kingston Market. In 1971, Chanda sang with Kingston Market at a school function, and he was  invited to join the group; they soon changed their name to the Mighty W.I.T.C.H., and then simply  W.I.T.C.H, using the acronym they'd coined as explanation. Fuelled by marijuana and Western  rock and soul, the group's debut album, Introduction, was released in 1972, and was among the  first commercially released LPs issued in Zambia. W.I.T.C.H.'s third album, 1975's Lazy Bones!!,  is generally regarded as their finest work; while they were hampered by the primitive recording  technology available in Africa, they developed a large following in Zambia and were playing  stadium-sized shows throughout the continent. After W.I.T.C.H. toured as an opening act for  Osibisa, the U.K.-based Afro-rock band, they began including more local influences on their next  album, Lukombo Vibes, but in 1977 the group began to splinter when Chanda left to return to  school and become a teacher. A reshuffled version of W.I.T.C.H. continued to record up until the  mid-'80s, going in a more disco-influenced direction with Patrick Mwondela, on albums like  1980's Movin' On and 1984's Kuomboka. Around the mid-'80s, however, the band ground to a halt.  In the 21st century, crate diggers interested in idiosyncratic rock sounds from around the world  rediscovered W.I.T.C.H., and the German reissue label Shadoks released new CD editions of  Introduction and Lazy Bones!! In 2011 the American label Now Again Records released We Intend  to Cause Havoc!, a comprehensive W.I.T.C.H. box set that featured their five studio albums plus  a bonus collection of single tracks and unreleased material. This sparked new interest in the  band, and by 2013, a Chanda-led W.I.T.C.H. with Mwondela, had regrouped and was touring  again. In 2023, W.I.T.C.H. released Zango, their first album of new material in almost 40 years. It  included contributions from fellow Zambian artists such as Sampa the Great . In June 2025, they  released Sogolo, their second album. ~Mark Deming, Rovi 

Brainstory’s new album Sounds Good, simply put, lives up to its name.

Based in L.A. but hailing from the Inland Empire's own Rialto, CA, two-thirds of Brainstory, Kevin and Tony Martin are brothers by blood, while Eric Hagstrom is a brother through their music and long term friendship. While the group's initial connection comes from the heady mixture of jazz-performance-focused music school and the grind of playing local shows, their bond has been strengthened through countless hours on the road touring and the making of two studio records—2019’s debut full-length, Buck, followed by 2021’s Ripe EP. "Being on the road, doing our own tours, and backing incredible people like Lady Wray, has sharpened our skills and really revved us up for this record," Kevin says. "It's been four years since our last full length record, and with everything that's happened since, it's like we've been catching up to ourselves." That's one way to describe change: catching up to oneself. Each member of Brainstory has gone through shifts, both personally and musically, and all of that thread through this record. 

Since they started the band they have constantly faced situations that forced them to rise to the occasion. They got signed to Big Crown Records, they stepped up their game. Covid happened, they learned to record themselves. They started touring a ton sharing the stage with the likes of Lady Wray and they got their live show super tight. All of this time spent grinding and growing has certainly paid off. The path to take their art to the next level is clearer than ever and once again, they are here for it. If there is one thing that is abundantly clear on this album, it’s that Brainstory leveled up. 

Part of their evolution is undoubtedly attributed to having access to and working constantly in their own studio in Long Beach. Another major factor is that their brotherhood has expanded. "I've been playing music with my brother all my life and now with Eric for a long time," Tony tells us. "Leon, though, is like another brother I've just met." 

Leon Michels, Big Crown's co-owner, produced this record and applied his unmistakable golden touch in crucial ways. One glaring example is "Peach Optimo." "When we brought that song in, it was originally at double-time to what's on the record," Eric explains. "And Leon said, 'Let's do it half-time.' So we played it a few times, then nailed it in one take. We were just like, 'Damn—that sounds so good."  Another example of how gracefully they work together is Leon's encouragement of Kevin's Delfonics-style singing on "Gift of Life." The B-side of Sounds Good's first single, that manages to be drop dead gorgeous, haunting, and profound all at once. "I have never done that on a record before, singing like that," Kevin admits. "It was a little uncomfortable at first, but, again, Leon's like, 'No, it sounds good!'" The other member of the Brainstory brotherhood whose contributions are essential, is studio engineer legend Jens Jungkurth who controls the tones and textures of the music. "That's what you're hearing, our connection, the fun moments, the little details," Kevin describes. "This record isn't half what it is without them—and it made us want to match that effort." 

It's easy to say that the music industry can be short on lasting, genuine relationships. However, for Brainstory, from day one it's been about standing by each other, for each other. Their friendship started the group, and now, this expanded brotherhood is supporting them to push it further. The stars have aligned for them to take a big and well deserved step with this new album, and you can hear it in their music—music that just Sounds Good.