KINARMONIK & YOTSI: The encounter that redefines Congolese music
- Kinarmonik
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
If Kinarmonik was a seed planted to nurture Congolese musical talent, then YOTSI is one of its finest fruits. This group, made up of Linda, Leah, Jephte and Tychick, perfectly embodies Kinarmonik's mission: to professionalize the music sector in the DRC, and to train, support and reveal the artists of tomorrow. Their story is one of encounter, alchemy and ascension, proving that Congolese music still has so much to offer the world.
Kinarmonik, one center, four destinies that intersect ...
In 2019, Linda, Leah, Jephte and Tychick, each at their own pace, enter the doors of the Kinarmonik Musical Center. They don't know each other yet, but they share a thirst for learning and creating. It was while jamming together that they discovered how complementary they were, and decided to form YOTSI, a free group with no musical borders, rooted in traditional Congolese rhythms - such as Mutuashi from Kasai - yet open to sounds from elsewhere.
Their motto: No borders! They don't want to "confine" themselves to a single style or language, and want to collaborate with artists from all over the world!
Right from the start, Eric Malu Malu, guitarist with Jupiter & Okwess and founder of Kinarmonik, spotted their potential. After training them, he accompanied them in composition and writing, encouraging them to refine their musical identity. Jephte, who arrived at the center at the age of 14, was a spirited young musician, but eager to progress. Leah, on the other hand, quickly became a key figure, taking on the role of cultural manager. Tychick, discreet at first, gradually asserted his rock'n'roll attitude. And finally, Linda, the last to join the adventure, naturally imposes her voice and becomes the group's lead singer.
For weeks, Yotsi, Eric Malu Malu and guest musicians will be recording their first Maisha album at studio kinarmonik.
The Maisha Album: From Kinshasa to Los Angeles
Buoyed by this momentum, YOTSI set to work. The songs were fine-tuned, the lyrics deepened, and the Kinarmonik studio became their second home. A team formed around them to accompany them on this new adventure! Lou, co-founder of Kinarmonik, becomes their manager, Eric their artistic director and producer. The project gained momentum when Eric activated his network: renowned professionals soon took an interest in their music. Yarol Poupaud, Kinarmonik's godfather, and Toni Kitanovski, lend their expertise to mixing the album. The renowned Mario Caldato, known for his work with the Beastie Boys and Seu Jorge, handles mastering at his MCJ studio in Los Angeles. Maisha features no fewer than 11 guest artists, including Ray Lema, Tyson Meya and Delphine Ciampi!
The result is Maisha (which means Life in Swahili), a vibrant album that blends traditional Congolese rhythms with contemporary influences, as on the first single Tuimbe, where Kasai Mutuashi flirts with Afrobeat brought to life by saxophonist Christine Roch! The themes addressed are deep and committed: the precarious condition of the DRC, hope, resilience, and the Eastern Congo... Maisha is a condensation of Congolese emotions and realities, sung in Lingala, Swahili, Kimongo or Tshiluba, Yotsi is addressed to all the Congolese people.
Released on December 8, 2023, the album marks a milestone for YOTSI... and for Kinarmonik, who created the Kinarmonik Production label for them.
For more than just a project, it is concrete proof that our mission is working: to support young talent through to true professionalism.
Une Esthétique Signée Primo Mauridi
To give their project a strong visual identity, YOTSI called on Primo Mauridi, a talented director and photographer from Goma. His unique vision, a blend of documentary and raw aesthetics, fits perfectly with the world of the Maisha album. He designed the album cover, as well as the music videos for Tuimbe and Maisha, powerfully capturing the band's energy and the vibrant reality of the Congo.
Primo Mauridi is recognized far beyond his country's borders, and was recently selected for the Biennale de la Photo in Bamako and Dakar, confirming his status as a key artist on the African visual scene. An obvious collaboration for YOTSI, who shares his desire to tell the Congo's story differently, with sincerity and power.
"It was important for us to have an artist from Eastern Congo on our album, because we're very concerned about the situation in Kivu! Choosing Primo for our video clips and album cover was an obvious choice, a duty! "Linda Tombo
From Kinshasa to Paris : The Maisha's TOUR
No sooner had the album been released than YOTSI hit the road for their first tour of Kinshasa, playing at the capital's must-see venues and all of Kinshasa's biggest festivals. In September 2024, they set down their instruments in Paris, with a first concert at Le Hangar on September 28, where they shared the stage with prestigious guests such as saxophonist Christine Roch, Montana Kinunu and Delphine Ciampi from the group Marie Maïko.
During their Paris tour, they met maestro Ray Lema, who honored them with a contribution to their album, on the track "Byose", and they also worked with artist Lomani Mondonga on his next show.
YOTSI: A New Era For Congolese Music
Beyond their talent, YOTSI's strength also lies in their very composition: two women, two men, a parity still rare on the Congolese music scene. Their existence is already a revolution in itself, embodying the renewal of Kinshasa's free, daring and forward-looking youth.
YOTSI is the story of a dream come true.
A meeting at the Kinarmonik Centre, hard work, opportunities... and today, music that crosses borders.
And this is just the beginning.
Follow YOTSI et Kinarmonik to make sure you don't miss any of their musical adventures. !!
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