Best of the Month: June
Here’s what caught Tangaza’s editorial teams attention in the month of June:
Amani
Fave Song - ‘Seasons’ by Am☮️ni
The young seventeen-year-old producer has hopes of bringing a new sound to the Kenyan market in the form of lo-fi. Am☮️ni's Seasons says nothing else but chill and relax and couldn't be a more needed message in the world today.
Fave Video - ‘Lazizi’ (acoustic) by Sauti Sol
It's simply great to see the band jamming out to one of their older songs.
Beverly
Fave Song - ‘Dusuma’ by Otile Brown feat. Meddy
TikTok is changing the world. Whether it is the throwback challenges or dance challenges, TikTok has done a lot for the world during this pandemic and that includes introducing me to this song by Otile Brown and Meddy. The single off Otile Brown’s debut album ‘Just In Love,’ has good chill vibes. Otile Brown and Meddy make the impossible and the things you should not do, seem like something you should do, like slow dancing with someone in the rain, which you probably shouldn’t because of corona and getting sick.
Fave Video - ‘Ruracio’ by Matata
If there is a group of artists who know what they are doing with music videos, it is Matata. The five man crew has gone all out for each of their videos and Ruracio is no different. In this video the group conducts a night time heist of a museum with art that watches and dances.Each and every time they release a video they give us good choreography, bright colours, high energy and creative effort. We love to see it and cannot wait to see what they release next.
Fave Project - ‘Midnight Train’ by Sauti Sol
I’m not trying to say I’m a prophet but my prediction that this album by Sauti Sol will leave audiences mesmerized has come to pass. This album is everything we love about the group, beautiful harmonies and melodies, bewitching instrumentals and stellar production, with a splash of something new. Every week… fine, you got me, every day I listen to this album and I always find a new song to be my favourite.
Kalanzi
Fave Song - ‘Caught in A Lie’ by Joony
Joony is one of the most prolific and dynamic young rappers coming out of the DMV’s thriving hip-hip scene. Since 2018, he’s released atleast 8 projects and countless singles and videos. He is a scion of DC’s vibrant Habesha community which boasts the largest population of Ethiopians living outside the East African nation. ‘Caught in a lie’ is quintessential Joony. Hypnotic sample, hefty 808s, and effortless flexing.
Fave Video - ‘The Lung’ by Mwami
Left-of-field Ugandan musician Mwami drifts farther left with this one. It’s a 100 second song whose lyrics are mostly indiscernible. All I know is he is shooting something down and I’m vibing to it. The song and accompanying visualizer was released as a part of Future Classic’s Shelter in Place compilation. The video, directed by Ben Dean is a dim continuous shot of an interpretive dancer with a bad case of cabin fever.
Fave Project - ‘ROSETTA’ by Dua Saleh
Dua Saleh’s Rosetta EP is one of the most imaginative pieces of music I’ve heard in a long while. The 20 minute project, which is named after the oft forgotten rock n roll pioneer, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, conjures a shadowy and chaotic universe replete with menacing alter-egos, incantations, and poetic imagery exploring sexuality and religious fundamentalism that tends to complicate it. Hip-hop, pop, punk, and indie rock influences are apparent throughout, but more so than genre, the mood of this project is its defining feature. Producer Psymum employs dark samples and pads that often feel like they want to drop into trap instrumentals but never do - opting instead for something far from familiar.
Joy
Fave Song - ‘Kindani Ndani’ by The Band Beca
The Band Beca really came through with this one. Kindani Ndani is a heartbreak song with poetic Swahili lyrics that hit the right spot. And the catchy zouk beat is just perfect for the Kenyan girl duo.
Fave Video - ‘Maji’ by Kerby
Let this music video by Kerby transport you to the Kenyan paradise that is Kilifi. With scenes from Kilifi New Year Festival, it makes you miss the beach and the forest and everything in between. Basically, it’s all vibes!
Fave Project - ‘The Kaya Collective’ by The Kaya Collective
After performing all over Nairobi and even Kilifi in the last 5 years, The Kaya Collective’s debut album is finally here. This is the most eclectic album you will hear today, from the highlife-ready Nairobeat to Hot Love that sounds like it belongs in a Bond movie. With three countries represented, The Kaya Collective deliver a truly live mix of benga, jazz, reggae, psychedelic rock and lots of soul.
Michelle
Fave Song – ‘Mama Pima’ by Melvin Trap BRW x ikes BRW
This song is set to a low-fi beat, one highlighted in several bars with simmering trumpet flares. In it, we are told about the inadequacy of love, and the frustration this brings. Its visualizer is reminiscent of the YouTube Channel ChilledCow’s ‘Study Girl’ – minimal, repetitive, animated movements within the same frame, here, of a man in a durag playing a piano, smoking, while a dog in pyjamas lays on a tree branch, steaming cup of tea in hand, and a cat jumps up and down on an old-school radio. Together with the song’s quivering alto hook, this unique set-up is perfect for creating a sadboi hours-adjacent mood – or that which comes directly after – we move.
Monica
Fave Song - ‘Troubled Youth’ Sichangi ft. Mikel Ameen
Characterized by sharp lyricism, and gritty, head-bopping beats, Sichangi and Mikel Ameen deliver a potent, introspective look into the narrative of todays youth. If this is an indicator of what Sichangi has in store for us on his upcoming project, I’m beyond excited.
Fave Project - ‘EX-TAPE’ by Caleb Awiti
The events of the past couple of months have undoubtedly been strenuous mental health-wise, and personally, that has affected my consumption of music. However, coming across Caleb Awiti’s ‘EX-TAPE’ revived me from my funk. The 18 year old Mombas-based artists is adding his voice to the growing list of East Africa’s R&B crooners with his sensual, trap tinged take on R&B. His latest project is testament to his vast potential and I would encourage all R&B heads to check it out.
Shishi
Fave Song - ‘My Everything’ by Sauti Sol ft. India Arie
I love India Arie so much, so this collaboration was such a pleasant surprise! She added beautiful emotional dimension to the song. The simple guitar with the added harmonies & drum hits ties up the song up so well.
Fave Video - Maji (King Kerby prod. by E Rungu & SonOfTheSun)
It's a very colourful music video with scenes from the Kizazi Stage at the Kilifi New Year Festival. It has an almost calming visual effect while still maintaining the vibrancy of the song
