Several years ago, we shared a video of Zimbabwean musician Daniel Gonora performing with his young son Isaac on the Dust-to-Digital Instagram page. The post resonated with many people, and not long after, Daniel’s associates got in touch with us. They told us that Daniel and his band would soon be heading into the studio to record an album.

In 2021, the producers reached back out to tell us the album had been completed and inquired if Dust-to-Digital would be interested in helping with the digital distribution. We liked the idea of continuing to share Daniel's music and are excited to announce that today on both our website and our Bandcamp page “Hard Times Never Kill” is available for purchase.

We hope you enjoy this album as much as we do!

"Hard Times Never Kill" in the Press

"Gonora Sounds, from Zimbabwe, is led by a blind guitarist, Daniel Gonora, who had been a member of a top Zimbabwean group, Jairos Jiri Band. For years, he made a living performing on the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. A documentary, “You Can’t Hide from the Truth,” revived his reputation, and on Feb. 4 he releases an album, “Hard Times Never Kill,” backed by some of Zimbabwe’s top musicians. His style is called sungura, which meshes Zimbabwe’s own traditions — guitar picking that echoes the plinking patterns of thumb pianos — with styles from across Africa. “Kusaziva Kufa” (“Ignorance”) taunts anyone who doubted that his music would survive; between drums, vocals and guitars, it’s a syncopated marvel that shifts to an even higher gear halfway through."
— Jon Pareles, The New York Times

“Sungura has this ability to bring the summer, no matter when you hear it. The shimmering electric guitars, bounding bass, tight harmonies and the gruff but passionate voice of Daniel Gonora all give this album a light, carefree, and joyous feel. It’s perfect for evoking a beating sun and the fragrance of baking grass, and as the style is based around circular chord sequences, it all feels as if it could spiral on and on into infinity.”
— Jim Hickson, The Quietus