On a frigid Wednesday evening, Artwell ‘Slickartie’ Neusu says as much to the crowd gathered for a pre-release listening session at The Wolfshack in Windhoek’s southern industrial area. In the days before the session, cupcakes adorned with the ‘KAPITAL Ells’ cover art are hand-delivered to many of their long-time supporters. Despite the chill, fans show up in droves.
Among them are some of the Namibian music scene’s finest. Lioness, glamourous as ever, glides in with her husband, fashionably late. Roaring rockers Vaughn Ahrens and Riaan Smit are in the mix along with Smit’s adorable offspring.
DJ Kiki sits behind me and requests that The Ells play a particular version of ‘Gingerman’, a crowd favourite. Vocal powerhouse Nasim hangs out near the courtyard and members of The Yesterdaye, The Ells’ musical brothers, sing along ardently in the front row. On the agenda for the evening are five original tracks about love, reflection, friendship and life experience, each played twice for good measure.
As the songs unfold in swells of intense emotion, epic harmonies and world class musicality, The Ells’ Emmanuel Ndifon offers a few explainers while listeners enjoy their fancy of Wolfshack’s generous cocktails and delicious eats. The vibes, to quote the cool kids, are immaculate as is ‘Cool Kids’, the second song on The Ells’ EP. Produced by Ndifon, written by The Ells and featuring the tracks ‘Guppie song’, ‘Cool Kids’, ‘Keeper’, ‘Gingerman�.