North Adams,MA – Mass‍ MoCA today launched its new record label,Mass MoCA Records,with the release of the self-titled debut album by the⁣ Kasambwe Brothers,a band from Malawi. The album is available now on Bandcamp and marks a new chapter for⁤ the museum, extending its support of artists into the realm of music production and‍ distribution.

The Kasambwe Brothers, who ⁢have performed together for four‍ decades⁢ in the Ndirande township​ near Blantyre,‌ Malawi, connected with Mass MoCA through Hen House Studios and Luc Deschamps, director of the Jacaranda Foundation and​ France’s honorary consul⁤ to Malawi. The album’s creation involved collaboration with musicians from the ​Massachusetts music scene, documented in a new film. ⁢Mass MoCA Records will operate as a three-year pilot program,aligning with the ⁤museum’s curatorial focus on artist​ mobility and global connection.

“By joining forces with Hen House Studios and being able to tap into the remarkable number ​of music ⁢studios and intimate venues ⁤in the local area-the ingredients ​for ⁣a hand-made record label were all around us,” said Mass MoCA director Kristy Edmunds. “I see this label‍ as an extension of ⁢how we ​innovate to support the mobility​ of artists’ ideas and connect audiences the world over.”

Harlan Steinberger, producer and engineer ⁢at Hen House, emphasized a return to traditional recording methods. “Though technology⁤ today can work wonders, the digital world has de-humanized us. I believe in an ​older-world method that emphasizes the magic of a band ‌making music together in⁢ one room, ⁤playing off the creativity of the moment. The humanistic approach creates a deeper emotional listener⁤ experience‌ that can not only be heard, but also⁢ felt.”

The album cover art was created ⁤by Clement Up. Mass ⁢MoCA⁤ Records plans to release an album from Compton jazz artists Black ‌Nile in ⁣2026.