22 year old Tanzanian native Naomisia released her debut EP “What Doesn’t Kill You” earlier this month to great magnificence. Within the first week of its release she had acquired 10,000 streams on Boomplay and made her way into Spotify’s ‘Eastern Vibes’ playlist. After reviewing her EP, we got to have a nice chat about her life before the EP, moving to Nairobi and what she hopes for in the future.
She moved to Nairobi a few months ago to pursue studies in Commerce at Catholic University in January. Claiming that the weather here is nice, she admits that the city is quite fast paced - something she’s not used to. In Dar Es Salaam, they like to do things a little bit slower and more relaxed, but being in Nairobi “inanichangamsha” she says, and it is something she appreciates.
WDKY is a heartbreak EP. When your first love crushes your heart and you take those lessons with you forever - this is what it sounds like. For her it was a very personal project based off of her own fairly recent experiences -which she has evidently taken the time to get over.
“I wanted to do a mixtape Kehlani style, and it was well underway, but then the heartbreak happened and I was motivated to do something else.”
Prior to making this EP, Naomisia had worked on two other projects that didn’t feel as organic as she needed them to feel, causing her to let go of those ideas, up until she got her heart broken which catalyzed WDKY. We might or might not hear those other songs on future projects as she emphasises to me that re-invention is something very important to her journey - no two projects should ever sound the same, even though she is an R&B artist.
In Dar Es Salaam she was part of a Jazz band called DazzJazz with whom she worked with for over 4 years before deciding to move to Nairobi. So in actuality, she is a Jazz singer who happens to have an R&B sound.
“In many ways they shaped my way of viewing music and how I write…”
They went around venues in both Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, chopping life up until they finally got a permanent residency at Golden Tulip Hotel in Zanzibar. She however had to part ways with the band in pursuit of higher learning.
Naomisia has her eyes set on penetrating the Kenyan music market, I can see her performing at acoustic gigs and making music with artists such as Sage who, in her short time here, has already had the pleasure of meeting. In fact, fate has led her to encounters with Blinky Bill, Octopizzo, Wendy Kay, Vallerie Muthoni, among others.
She has released music with the creative genius NuFvnk from EA Wave, called “Nilivyo Kupenda”, and is currently working on a song with Karun who recently released her sophomore EP ‘Catch A Vibe’. When working with other artists, Naomisia describes herself as necessarily picky. Erykah Badu’s quick wit comes to mind when she says, “I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit!” Paradoxically though, she says she has worked with as many Tanzanian producers as she can. This doesn’t come as a surprise given her four year run withDazzJazz and making music independently for three. Going to the studio wasn’t always easy for the rising artist. She was extremely shy at first and would be accompanied by her mother to every studio session. Are you crying? Cause I am. Those are the types of African mothers (and aunties) we need more of! Having her as her biggest support system really encouraged her to make more music and eventually built up her confidence.
In Tanzania, she has had the pleasure of working in legendary studios such as Tongwe Records, MJ, Wanene and Switch. When I ask her about the R&B scene in Dar, she says it’s better than it’s ever been.
“I’ve realised that alternative artists in TZ just go ahead and do their own gigs, venues have opened up to us and the fans are increasing beyond just the alternative scene there”
A few years ago, that was very unlikely. The number of streams she has gotten so far was a surprise to her. I am happy to hear that her fans and the fans of most alternative artists in Tanzania have significantly grown beyond the alternative scene. More and more people are opening themselves up to what music from Tanzania can sound like beyond Bongo Flava. The “in thing” right now are jam sessions, acoustic gigs that are focused on the artist rather than just the crowd. She tells me of “Chi and Friends”, which seems to be popping right now and something to keep an eye out for. Some of her current favourite Tanzanian artists include, Serafina, Nandori, Heri Muziki, Tofa Jaxx and Rachi who executive produced her EP.
To be a great artist is to have a great team. Naomisia has managed to secure herself both a manager (who used to manage Grace Matata and Mbosso of WCB) and an A&R who have helped her get the ball rolling with the business side of things. Danny, her A&R encouraged her to release one of the top songs from the EP that we otherwise wouldn’t have gotten to hear. Can you guess which one it is?
As for dealing with heartbreak, her number one piece of advice is to surround yourself with people who genuinely love and support you.
“When I got my heart broken that night, my people stayed right there with me. Also, have an outlet, for me it was writing about how I felt and what I wish I could say tot them.”
And for opening yourself back into love,
“It’s scary, but sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith. It worked for me and I am happy with who I have in my life right now.”
Beyond making more music and perhaps getting into music production, in the future she hopes to awaken her entrepreneurial skills by starting her own artist related businesses and follow her other creative passions.
Check out What Doesn’t Kill You on major streaming platforms.
