“Argent” is the third EP released by Tshegue, the duo of DRC born singer andlyricist Faty Sy Savanet with the Parisian drummer, percussionist, and producer Nicolas “Dakou” Dacunha, out October 2024, Friday 11th on Ekleroshock Records.
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, singer and lyricist Faty Sy Savanet met the drummer, percussionist, and producer Nicolas “Dakou” Dacunha in Paris in 2016. At the time, they already shared
the same creative spontaneity, the same desire for authenticity. There is an urgency in Tshegue’s music, an imperative to both create and reflect, something visceral: now the duo is back with their third EP Argent, marking a decisive shift. Faty writes to observe, confront, and cherish. She questions the current state of youth—and more broadly, our societies.
“Having an opinion aboutthings is a journey. This record bears witness to that journey” Sy Savanet says.
The first track, “Mais”, the main part of the EP, continues this reflection by questioning the complex relationships to colonization, capitalism, andreligion (and enlists Ibrahim Kamara, Artistic Director of Off- White and Editor-in-Chief of Dazed magazine, to direct the video). Next comes “Sing My Song”, a vibrant tribute to Kotazo, a cultural movement born in the DRC and censored in its early days, which draws inspiration from the Shégués (the street kids of Kinshasa).
“Shuffle”, on the other hand, aims to be the anthem of an untamed youth. Sung in Lingala, composed with percussion, and produced with punk and rock influences, Tshegue’s music on this third EP reflects its hybrid character more than ever. It’s a direct descendant of ancestral sounds, yet contemporary and informed, filled with political, artistic, and personal questions. It doesn’t reveal all its secrets at first, but it’s listened to as one watches a crowd dancing—you inevitably find yourself in it.
