Freequency of da sun

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH MUSIC AS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE... AND A DECLARATION OF LOVE FOR AFRICA
The intercultural project NOUMUSO (nouvelle musique solar) with musicians from Guinea, Senegal, South Africa and Switzerland is accompanied by filmmaker Jonathan Owadja with the camera over several years and in different processes. Their vision is cultural ex- change through music and the creation of new solar music by combining traditional African instruments like kora and djembé with universal jazz pianos and hiphop-inspired beats.
The film version of their eponymous debut album FREEQUENCY OF DA SUN (2021 Sogue Records), aris- es from a trip to Guinea by Emanuel, the band‘s Swiss drummer and producer, with djembéfola Yamoussa Sylla. Starting from their songs and their themes, they find the images for them in dance performances, school visits, everyday situations and in nature there. These visuals are combined with a concert impression of the band in Switzerland, a studio recording session for their next album with their Senegalese griot and kora player Sadio Cissokho and interviews with their pianist Ndu- duzo Makhathini, a Blue Note Records artist from South Africa to form a strong message that at the center is the sun, symbolic of an element that unites us all. In their musical and interpersonal encounters, questions arise: What can we learn from Africa? What does Africa need right now? How can Africa heal? What do African peo- ple in the diaspora need?
Repeatedly, their focus is on children, they, who embody our future: What do we want to give them on their journey? Whitin his debut film, Jonathan Owadja tells a big story with every little scene. Combined with the sonic magic world of NOUMUSO, the result is a multidimensional, inspiring and sensual film experience that transports the warmth of an entire continent.

  • Jonathan Owadja
    Director
  • Emanuel Riederer
    Writer
  • Emanuel Riederer
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    35 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 25, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Switzerland
  • Country of Filming:
    Guinea, Switzerland
  • Language:
    English, French, Swiss German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jonathan Owadja

Jonathan Owadja was born 1983 in Tel Aviv and grew up in Switzerland.
As a graphic designer and art director he lived in Sardinia, Italy for a few years. Back in St.Gallen, Switzerland he founded with Hannah Gstrein a design studio called OGD. They won several prizes (RED DOT Design Award, International Design Award, European Design Award).
His deep passion for music led him into the world of music video production. Over the past 10 years, he has brought to life a variety of video clips spanning different music genres.
With „Freequency of da sun“ he gives his filmdebut:
A middle - length musicdocumentarymovie about an intercultural project between Guinee and Switzerland.

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Director Statement

In the creation of "Freequency of da sun" i was searching the pictures to an existing album. The music was guiding me and we were improvising a lot to find all the parts. It felt just right to do almost everything spontaniously. This is what Africa inspired me to.