South Africa's John Wizards started as a project in 2010 for bedroom producer John Withers. The vocal duties are by Rwandan Emmanuel Nzaramba, whom Withers met by chance in Cape Town. Soon after, however, Nzaramba moved, meaning it would prevent the two from staying in contact. In 2012, they crossed paths again. Withers invited Nzaramba back to his flat to listen to reggae band the Congos, which Nzaramba disliked, but he did like the new tracks Withers had created, and immediately began to write vocal parts. In 2013, the band released its self-titled debut on Planet Mu and ended the year in many album-of-the-year listings. Withers gathered a group of musician friends to rework the music and toured the album internationally. ~ James Pearce