Category Archives: Music

Lyria 3 Enters the Fray: Google’s Multimodal Push into a Litigious, High-Fidelity AI Music Landscape

Feb 17, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — Google DeepMind has introduced Lyria 3, a sophisticated artificial intelligence model designed for high-fidelity music generation. This technology allows users to transform text prompts or uploaded images into cohesive audio tracks with natural rhythmic flow. Creators can exercise technical control over specific details, such as vocal styles, linguistic nuances, and acoustic arrangements, to produce professional-grade compositions. To ensure ethical use, the developers integrated SynthID watermarking to identify AI-generated content and worked alongside musicians to establish creative guardrails. Beyond music, the broader ecosystem features specialized tools for scientific research, robotic reasoning, and environmental mapping. Consistent with its mission, the organization emphasizes responsible AI development that enhances human productivity and artistic expression. Continue reading

13Feb/26

Vionde Music Mixtapes: From 1970s Zamrock to Modern Zed Beats

Why We Sing: The Hidden Science of Love, Zambia’s Golden Soul, and the Art of the Perfect Mixtape

Feb 13, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — The impulse to share a specific song with a partner is among our most enduring romantic rituals, yet it represents a profound transition in the human experience: the shift from music as a fleeting acoustic performance to music as a curated, tangible artifact. This act of intentional construction is not merely about entertainment; it is the building of a “sonic identity” that serves as a physical representation of intimacy. To understand why music maintains such a visceral grip on our romantic lives, we must look to the intersection of evolutionary  ontogeny  and cultural heritage. From the rhythmic scaffolding of our ancestors to the “Golden Soul” of 1970s Zambia, music functions as a sophisticated toolkit designed to signal fitness, accelerate trust, and preserve our collective “affective heritage.”

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12Feb/26

Salma Sky: The Multilingual Pioneer Who Redefined Zambian R&B

More Than a Melody: How Salma Sky Redefined the Zambian Sound

 

Feb 11, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — Salma Sky (born Salma Dodia) is a leading figure in the Zambian music scene who has played a pivotal role in popularizing and shaping the local R&B genre. Born in Lusaka to a Zambian father and a Lebanese mother, she transitioned from a modeling career to music, eventually becoming half of a noticeable “power couple” alongside her husband and producer, Tivo Shikapwashya. Continue reading

11Feb/26

Chisenga Katongo: The Global Voice of Zambian Hip Hop

Feb 11, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — Chisenga Katongo is a Zambian-born Australian hip hop artist known for blending African sounds with socially conscious lyrics. Based in Perth, he addresses issues like peace and justice. A multi-instrumentalist and artist, he won the Australian Peace Prize in 2009. Continue reading

10Feb/26

Bombshell Grenade Honors Grandmother and Bemba Heritage in New Video ‘Bwalya’

10 Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media  — Zambian artist Bombshell Grenade has released the music video for ‘Bwalya’, the opening track of her album Mfumu Kadzi, featuring Jazzy Jess and Sebastien Dutch. The release is a tribute to her late grandmother, Bwalya Sophie Chibesakunda, whose name the artist explains is derived from a word meaning “Warrior”. Visually, the video celebrates Bemba culture and the “simple life of a village girl,” acknowledging that her success is the result of her community’s collective effort. Through this release, she promotes themes of women’s empowerment and unity, urging people to embody the spirit of the “village” by genuinely caring for one another.

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28Jan/26

Pop-Reggae Legends UB40 Announce Massive 40-City “Unstoppable” North American Tour and New Summer Album

Jan. 28, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The provided text details the announcement of The Unstoppable Tour, a major concert series by the legendary British reggae-pop group UB40 scheduled for late 2025. This extensive 40-city trek will cover numerous locations across the United States and Canada, marking the band’s fifth straight year of North American performances. Fans can expect a setlist featuring iconic hits like “Red Red Wine” alongside material from a forthcoming studio album slated for release this summer. The current lineup includes original founding members and lead vocalist Matt Doyle, who has fronted the group since 2021. Beyond the tour logistics, the sources highlight the band’s enduring global influence, noting their massive record sales and multiple Grammy nominations earned over a career spanning nearly five decades. Continue reading

06Jan/26

Copyright infringement, artist compensation

Jan. 6, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — In 2025 and early 2026, the  BBC Talking Business  series and wider BBC reporting have extensively covered the transformative and controversial role of AI in the music industry. Continue reading

14Dec/25

Mixtape Vs Album

Dec. 14, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — A mixtape is a compilation of songs, originally homemade on cassette tapes, now often digital, used by artists for promotion or by fans for personal enjoyment, featuring a mix of original tracks, remixes, and freestyles, often released for free with fewer restrictions than a traditional album. In hip-hop, it’s a vital tool for artists to build buzz, experiment, and showcase skills, sometimes using uncleared samples or rapping over others’ beats. Continue reading

26Sep/25

XBOOM Speakers Featuring FYI.RAiDiO AI DJ Service

The collaboration between LG Electronics and FYI.AI, a creative technology company founded by will.i.am launch new audio products. Specifically, the availability of the “LG xboom by will.i.am” Bluetooth speaker collection, which integrates the interactive AI service FYI.RAiDiO. This service uses “culturally rich AI DJs” to provide a personalised and dynamic listening experience, transforming the speakers into responsive companions. Continue reading

17May/25

what is the Eurovision song contest all about?

May 17, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual international song competition organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) since 1956. It brings together participants representing primarily European countries, although nations from outside of Europe, such as Australia, have also been invited to compete. Continue reading