BATILA (official)

BIO

BATILA Ange da Costa was born in 1979 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Raised between Berlin and London, BATILA was the first-born child to a set of Congolese and Angolan parents. He would be blessed with four more siblings and much later in life develop into BATILA.

BATILA started writing poems at the tender age of 10 developed a strong love bond with music from a time in which his father used to travel to Belgium and brought back vinyls from the latest releases of Congolese Urban Music. He was in love with the poetry, the distinctive singing of Black Voices and the typical Congolese songwriting style, in which, for example, it is often written from the perspective of the woman or socio-political themes are cleverly wrapped up in love stories. Bands like Viva la Musica by Papa Wemba, Victoria Elysion by Kester Emenya, Choc Stars, T.P Ok Jazz by Franco Luambo Makiadi and the compositions of Simaro Lutumba or Koffi Olomide were his favourites. Other significant sonic influences were Lucky Dube, Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Tina Turner, Billy Ocean, Lisa Stanfield, Madonna, Boy George and Tracy Chapman.

BATILA’s sound is an inspiring journey through space and time. With a concoction of Congolese scents, a sparkle of Reggae and soft jazzy vibes, the cosmopolitan singer songwriter is so versatile that no existing genre can fully describe this musical experience. He baptized this style Bantu Soul - a fusion of all genres created and inspired by people of African descent. Backed by his guides, his ancestors and, of course, nurtured by his African roots he defined his distinctive timbre and melodic style that we find in his music today. Influenced equally by Hip Hop BATILA landed in the late 90’s a label deal with.Even during his student years, he continued his musical path by sonwriting for no one less than the legendary Papa Wemba. A long list of work collaboration follows from working with some of the biggest German Artists, International producers to writing for fellow artists, mixing and mastering to releasing his own music and assisting in productions for several Academies of Art. List of relevant events that can be checked off a musical bucket list are the Rumba Parade Festival in Kinshasa, Nisville Jazz festival in Serbia, the Blacksea Jazz festival in Batumi and Lake of Stars in Malawi and that is to only name a few.

BATILA’s Debut release, a LP, is named TATAMANA - that’s Kikongo and means “Don't give up / hold on to what you love“. The album is BATILA’s journey to African spirituality, self-love and black love. BATILA which was also his Grandfather's name and holds the meaning “the one who protects, conserves, holds it together“. So, to get rid of the chains and reconnect more to his ancestors who inspired him to write this music and also live up to his true calling, he picked the name that reflects his new-found attitude and was given to him by his origin.