Julina Kaakunga
O.com667 music duo Samuel Mbalundu, known by his stage name ‘Junox’, and Muakambithatji Katetu AKA Wizzen are back with their third album ‘Omakutipongo’, which was released today.
“We welcome the world to Omakutipongo – where sound becomes an everlasting experience,” the duo expressed enthusiastically.
They said the album was inspired by their everyday experience.
“Of course, there are cultural inspirations for the sound, but what we are doing is trying to find a way to connect people to themselves; to their essence. We hope this sound serves as a reminder that no matter what you might be going through, you must remember that you are an everlasting energy having a human experience,” Mbalundu stated.
Katetu said he has seen remarkable progress in their collaboration. “We’ve tackled obstacles together; from perfecting our craft, to navigating the complexities of the music industry. Each challenge has been a stepping stone, shaping not just our music, but also the resilience of our partnership”.
The 15-track album’s melodies are aimed to ignite the passion and stir up emotions of everyone listening.To them it’s not just music, but rather a “piece of their essence woven into every note”.
O.com667 urges the public to embrace the music, feel it, and let the vibrations transcend boundaries between perspective and reality.
Established in 2015, O.com667 have released two studio albums – the first (Kings of Kulture) was recorded in 2018, the second (Ecstasy) was released in 2020.
The pair has had accomplishments; one being their successful participation in Sanlam’s ‘My Culture, My Life’ project. It was a big recognition for them, they said.
“The last big project was last year with our pre-album single ‘Omakutipongo’, for which we shot a music video. It was quite an experience,” she said.
With the latest album, the duo hopes to remind people of the importance of being alive and appreciating it, despite their everyday challenges.
“These vibrations are the essence of life, so get out of your head for a moment and live for now, for this moment, like yesterday is already forgotten and tomorrow is too far away. Let us live today, let us live now,” they urged.
As for their evolution, the duo said it was not an easy journey. But it is worthwhile, as their shared commitment to growth has strengthened not only the music, but their partnership as well.
“I’ve witnessed tremendous growth in our musical journey. Overcoming personal challenges has been a crucial part of this evolution, whether it’s refining our sound, navigating the industry, or pushing creative boundaries,” said Mbalundu. Both were born on 7 June 1996, which corresponds to the number 667 in the name, while the letter “O” in the name represents the Oludhimba language and their ancestral homeland Opuwo and Oruhakana, today known as Ruacana. More visuals and some international collaborations are on the cards for O.com667.