Premiere: Dala Perfectly Captures The Bittersweet Of Leaving Home

Fusing RnB and electro-pop sensibilities with elements from Kenya’s 70’s post-rock period, Kenyan producers EA Wave, and RnB duo Mankind perfectly encapsulate the conflicting emotions of sadness and excitement, longing and curiosity that come with leaving home on ‘Dala’. Meaning home in Dhuluo, ‘Dala’ is a bittersweet coming of age story that many of us can relate to. Both groups of artists are skilled storytellers as, through the combination of Mankind’s sincere and poetic lyrics, and EA Wave’s nuanced production, the perfect picture of nostalgia is painted.

In a string of quality music that has been coming out of Nairobi recently, EA Wave and Mankind join the ranks of artists that are raising the calibre of Kenyan music, and continually proving that Kenyan artists are just as capable as any other. This track seamlessly fits into the wave of left-of-centre, alternative RnB music that is having a global moment.

Somewhere in between bittersweet and a reverie, EA Wave's new song continues to establish the group's ambition to fuse modern music stylings with those of 70s post-rock Kenya. With the aid of RnB and pop duo, Mankind, comes a coming-of-age tale, that every adult must go through - leave home and forge one's own path. The song simulates the conversation between a child and their mother, a mother's reluctance towards separation and their child's resolve to leave. 'Dala' derives its name from the Dholuo word for 'home'. A love letter to those who shaped us and the places we are from. Lyrics by Eugene Lowell and Brian Owuor Mixed by Jacob 'Jinku' Solomon with assistance from Hiribae Wanyoike and Samuel 'Sichangi' Namasaka. Masted by Russell Kearney at https://www.russellkearneymusic.com Live Guitar by Otugi Mlamba & Samuel 'Sichangi' Namasaka Live Bass by Samuel Guchu Ngugi & Hiribae Wanyoike

The reverb and delay of the electric guitar’s opening patterns pull you deeper into your memories as Mankind’s wistful vocals croon “It’s so hard to leave/Sing me a song when I am gone from you/I won’t be gone for long/Sing me a song when I am far from you”. You’re carried on a wave of longing as you reminisce on the comfort of home. The songs second verse evokes similar sentiments as you’re reminded of the fact that “Nowhere in the world’s the same/You’re better off staying home”. However, you have to leave to forge your own path, and the subtle but driving percussion underlying these two verses is reminiscent of that resolve.

The track’s pre-chorus and chorus are masterfully layered. The despairing lyric’s “Mama’s wailing no/Don’t go away from home” are interjected by “I’m waving goodbye/Waving goodbye” on the pre-chorus. You can feel the tension, envision the push and pull between the mother desperately clinging on, and her child who has determine to leave home. The tempo suddenly slows down as the percussion is stripped away leaving Mankind’s haunting vocals repeating, “Mama’s wailing, don’t go away from me”. The predominantly instrumental chorus offers hope however, as the electric guitar’s repeated upbeat, melodic pattern symbolize the excitement of embarking on this next phase of life .

Just as ‘Dala’ comes to an end, there’s a brief, stripped back period where Mankind’s vocals are carried by the bassline. The song closes out with “I won’t be gone for long/Sing me a song when I am gone from you” and that same upbeat, melodic guitar pattern. We are left with a moment of clarity as reconciliation is finally made with the decision to leave home.

Stream ‘Dala’ on Apple Music and Spotify.