Nazar (musician)

Nazar was born in Belgium in 1993.[3] He is the son of Alcides Sakala Simões a fomer general of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola.[1] Nazar lived in the suburban Brussels until the age of 14.[4] Growing up the threat of street gangs were are a constant.[3] Also in his childhood was an failed kidnap attempt on his sister.[3] At age 7 Nazar watched a news broadcast which wrongly stated that his father had died.[2] By 2002, after the Angolan Civil War, Nazar would vist Angola; eventually taking permant residence in 2007 in the city of Luanda.[3][4][2] From the age of 14 Nazar and his family would go on annual pilgrimages to the rural town of Bailundo; the birth place of his father.[2]

A self described "alien with no friends" Nazar found himself dealing with depression and in turn finding solace in music.[3] By 2007, inspired by the Music of Justice, Daft Punk and Burial alongside a desire to impress his classmates, Nazar would start to produce music, intitally making beats on his father's laptop with a pirated copy of FL studio; often for hours on end.[3][4][2]

In 2018, Nazar released his debut EP, Enclave on Hyperdub records.[5] In 2019, Nazar was part of Hyperdub's 15th anniversary show at London’s Village.[6] In 2020, he released his Album, Guerrilla.[7]

Expanding on the kuduro sound with what he dubs "rough kuduro" Nazar "blends uptempo kuduro beats with aggressive, militaristic sound design and lyrics reflecting on the violence and disorder of the Angolan civil war."[5]