Njoki Karu is an honest person. She described herself as much - unwittingly- in a past interview: ‘I just grew up in a very honest family...that's just how I view everything.’ Watching her performances and following her art, it’s easy to believe this of the  Berklee trained music therapist who champions affordable mental healthcare through her initiative Nenyoon. Her music has found its place in her generation. If art mirrors society, then Njoki Karu’s reflects the best of us. Adulting has been defined as the practice of behaving like a responsible adult especially in accomplishing mundane but necessary tasks. And while we scuffle to figure out the mundane, we often lose what we knew as children - our authenticity. Njoki reminds us. Her listeners seem to understand and connect with that simplicity. The comments on her Youtube videos for instance, seem to read from a script: 

‘...Genuine delivery. Hits the soul.’ ‘Njoki, you speak to my soul every time I hear your voice’ 

Perhaps it is this sincerity that feeds into her music, which is marked by piercing, reflective lyrics, and a sometimes soft, sometimes roaring, but ever vulnerable voice. It came as no surprise when her Perform incubator showcase became a trending topic upon its release. Courtesy of the Goethe Institute and Muthoni Music Entertainment, Perform Music is a music business incubator that seeks to equip artists and music executives with the tools necessary to thrive in the industry. Njoki’s showcase, titled ‘the honesty of the human experience,’ was a performance masterclass from which we can draw a few lessons not just on music but navigating life as a young adult.

I missed the livestream of the showcase, which trended at number 1 on Kenyan Twitter (a rarity for alternative music in Kenya). When I finally caught up, I was not expecting two things: the opening song; a cover of what she called her grandmother’s favourite hymn, ‘panapo pendo’ and the closing number, the luhya chorus ‘itaa yanje’. The latter was medlied with an original titled 'hope' and accompanied by a sublime Tim Reynolds on the violin. Njoki is always honouring her influences so this was not surprising. Rather, it was interesting to watch the nonchalant mix of old and new, rock and worship. The saying ‘tall trees have deep roots’ came to mind, watching this beast of a vocalist softly invite us into her world. 

In between the two, we discovered that Njoki belongs on the stage just as much as she does in the recording booth. There were pockets of surprised silence where her voice alone filled the room, where we forgot that we were watching a performance and were transported instead to an intimate journal entry. Sometimes she stood, sometimes she knelt, and other times danced. All the same, our attention never shifted from her; a commanding but warm presence that was not once overwhelmed by the full band of highly skilled instrumentalists. I found this to be a success of its own. 

After the introduction, the performance kicked off strong with a compelling rendition of ‘Dance’. Props to Newman Owuor whose guitar playing lends the song an instantly recognisable quality - think a softer, stripped down version of Stevie Nick’s edge of seventeen. As she articulated each word in the opening stanza, we met Njoki the storyteller:

‘Aching scars, time don't seem to heal/ So I’ve got bleeding heart, wounds that seem to kill/ But I've come a long way.’

Though unreleased, Dance has been featured on Polycarp’s father series (and I’d definitely like to see it on movie soundtracks. I also enjoyed the revamped version of the ballad secret love, which would later be featured on Njoki’s new EP, Anchor. Secret love was famously featured on Rafiki and it remains a crowd favourite. It provided a chance for banter with the live audience. What better topic to unite us than unrequited or, in the case of Rafiki- ‘forbidden’ love? The thing about sincerity is that it creates room for true community. In the resultant camaraderie we then learn to laugh at ourselves-an important adulting life skill. 

The next few songs, ‘fall’,‘anchor’ and ‘holes’ invited us to take a journey of introspection. (As a therapist is wont to.) Real growth warrants self-awareness. I’m glad to see a rise in mental wellness awareness and hope that more can be done behind closed doors as well. Above all, the songs in this set teach us to hope even when we are not doing so well. Acoustically, Njoki and the band were able to relay heavy but gentle messages. The slight pause before anchor began, with only a guitar playing, provided a moment of silence and a perhaps accidental yet poignant transition. ‘Holes’ was the lead single for the EP ‘Mawio’. You can tell that this is one of Njoki’s favourites, the way that she smiles through the challenging words that she wrote for herself yet belts each syllable as though fighting for the ‘someday’ that is the subject of the song. The band provided a beautiful cool backing that allowed the lyrics to take centerstage. . 

Another unreleased song, ‘Mwangaza’, had the background vocalists rejoin the stage. The ensemble of Matt Ngesa, Tim Reynolds, Michelle Gatuiku, Nanoiya Sinkuli and Polaris - an impressive selection - deserve a special mention. It was refreshing to see competence matched at all levels, and a hint of friendship and mutual appreciation too. I recently saw a Twitter thread by Tim Kipchumba where users were challenged to share about their life journeys before 40. The premise was that society has set an unrealistic standard for what success is, and moreso, an expiration date. Part of growing up, I think, is giving up some of these expectations and embracing the journey by walking with others. Find your tribe and be great together. 

This is a set that will inspire you, if not through the message then the excellence with which it was delivered. Because of the lyrical nature, it’s the kind of set you want to pay attention to and not relegate to background sound. Music lovers will appreciate the characteristic nostalgic nod, the vocal prowess and sharp writing. Young people will, as we say, love to see one of us winning. All will experience Njoki in her element.

All photo’s provided by Shem Obara and Daviey Apollo perForm Music Incubator.