MAUIMØON is here to stay with new EP ‘From Uganda with Love’

What is perhaps the best description of MAUIMØON’s music is a comment on one of his earlier instagram posts: ‘your music is like sunshine hitting brown skin… magical…’

Indeed, a relentless African beat marching towards modernity pulsates through his vast discography both literally and figuratively. This is true starting with his eclectic flips under the producer moniker La Soülchyld, to his more recent, fresh, alt RnB takes all of which have gained him critical acclaim across genres and boundaries. Wild experimentation tempered by a steady, sure-bet inclination seems to be his guiding force, a humble gamble that has paid off time and time again. It has also made him somewhat of a musical chameleon who can camouflage into any setting and make it his own, such as what we saw with his take on the salsa classic ‘Vente Negra’.

‘From Uganda with Love’ does much to reveal MAUIMØON. Growing from what he began in 2021 with his arresting debut EP ‘Pleasure’, an alt RnB flavour permeates his sophomore collection- this time heavily produced by himself (as La Soülchyld) showing the confidence of maturation and helping to maintain a more unified sonic experience. All the same, producer collaborations with the likes of Ransom Beatz and Brizy Beats allow for variation with different genres including afrobeats and Hiphop.

‘Sayin my Name’ is the strong salutation to the love letter. A laid-back vibe is amplified by MAUIMØON’s smooth vocals and a beat which combines the 2010s era RnB production with his signature soft beats. Warm, shimmering strings maintain a syncopating presence lending a sentimental tone to the song. All this is not to be mistaken for weakness, as evident in the bold lyrics which seek to coax but not plead with the recipient who is promised a different experience throughout the week in the full yet memorable hook which is instantly an earworm. 

Having laid this foundation at a comfortable andante tempo, we pick up the pace in ‘Cherry Sweet’, a head-bobbing serenade dedicated to an African queen with ‘melanin skin like me’. At this point we’ve taken off and MAUIMØON uses ‘Supahawt’ to casually flex his vocalist muscle, introducing a mellower register occasionally deflecting to a falsetto-like style and a ragga inspired rap in the pre-chorus. ‘Supahawt’ playfully flirts with the subject and serves as a sure pick-me-up for the listener. At 1 minute 50 seconds, it is painfully short but also deeply satisfying. 

‘What You Want’ provides the only artist collaboration on the project- with none other than Kenya’s  Mau From Nowhere. Perhaps that is why it feels different straight away, an anticipatory opening beat punctuated by horns followed by a dazzling display of MAUIMØON’s prowess. By the time Mau comes in with his rap we know we are in different times. The two bounce off each other well and Mau provides a fitting complimentary tone. 

‘Really Need’ takes us back to the beginning with a slower pace in which MAUIMØON questions his subject, asking for a commitment before they embark on a dually satisfying partnership. The tumult is relayed well through the atypical arrangement of the song which spots several off-beat patterns unconnected by any even chorus, MAUIMØON instead choosing a crooning hook that further communicates his complicated situation.

The penultimate track, ‘Can’t Believe’ allows MAUIMØON to just flow, leading the listener wherever he wills, accompanied by ever present round singing background vocals. The simplicity is heartwarming and allows for a sincere connection to the lyrics. The EP comes to a divergent end with ‘Felony’ revealing MAUIMØON’s uncanny ability to leverage from different genres. In this case the afrobeat wave makes an appearance causing him to almost sound like a different artist at certain points. 

In case anyone doubted it, ‘From Uganda with Love’ has set MAUIMØON apart as a flag bearer for East Africa’s burgeoning RnB Alt scene. Accolades continue to stream in for him as a result, including being named as Spotify’s Fresh Finds Africa (February). Beyond this, ‘From Uganda with Love’ truly is a love letter to all who believe in the country’s music scene and all it has to offer to the region and beyond, and we are loving it right back.

Stream it now.