by James Christopher Monger
Formed by Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and British DJ/production duo Radioclit (Johan Karlberg and Etienne Tron), electro-Afro-pop outfit the Very Best came to fruition in 2008 after the trio's free online mixtape found unexpected global success -- their spirited remixes of obscure/popular pop, dance, indie rock, and Afro-pop tunes, all of which were tied together by Mwamwaya's hypnotic Chichewa, Swahili, Portuguese, and English vocals, found favor with everyone from Pitchfork to Radar to Rolling Stone. In 2009, the group unleashed its first physical product, Warm Heart of Africa. Released on New York City's Green Owl label, the album featured all original material and included guest appearances from M.I.A. and Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig