A lot has happened this June. Through the million – okay maybe a thousand – new music videos released last month, I did the hard work of sifting for you. Wheat from chaff kinda thing.
Category: Kenyan
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KAYA: What You Missed at Mr Jemedari’s album launch
One of my favourite things about being an events junkie is discovering new artists and music I probably wouldn’t have heard of. This is why I attend so many events, for those who’ve been asking. And that is exactly how I met Mr Jemedari.
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H_art the Band goes Unplugged at The Alchemist
Watching H_art the Band live on stage is something special. You simply cannot afford to be taking selfies and videos with your smartphone, when all that craziness is happening right in front of you.
Why am I telling you this?
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Let’s Fall in Love – or Not
You know it’s Valentine’s season when brands suddenly start advertising special offers, with red hearts painted all over. And everyone starts panicking. Especially my single peeps out there.
Now you have to make late-night calls to your secret crushes. Even look for a last-minute date on Tinder. I mean, isn’t it illegal to be forever alone also on International Lovers Day?
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Why Kenyan Music is Killing It in 2017
Unless you’ve been living on an island with limited Internet connection (then I wish I was you) you must have heard of this song. It’s the new talk of the town. Every cool kid in Nairobi, and probably the whole Kenya knows about it.
If you haven’t, then you might need to be wary of your company.
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5 Kenyan Ladies who can really SING
If you didn’t know by now, let me tell you a secret. There is a huge difference between singing and SINGING. Almost anyone can sing as long as they have a voice. They can belt out tunes, and even make top-charting music.
But fewer people can do the latter. Really SING. Dazzle other human beings with their exquisite voices. Or shut a room up simply by opening their mouths.
In the Kenyan music industry, these guys are way less than the singers. They are almost a rare commodity that deserve to be preserved like a national treasure. That is why this post is here – to appreciate some of the superb Kenyan vocalists right now, who just happen to be female. But don’t worry fellas, your time will come.
1. Sage
From her first single “So Alive” with Octopizzo, I immediately knew that Sage aka Barbara Ng’eno was something special. True to this, years later she still wows crowds with her musical prowess and simple yet deep lyrics. And her voice mahn is just, heaven.
Current situation: Listening to her debut album Expose Yourself.
Since the best way to witness true vocal talent is through a live performance, here she is with one of her biggest songs – Maskini.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5LB9kbVIUM]
2. Dela
Ever since she made her music comeback in 2015, Dela has proven to us why she belongs in the music game. The Kenyan female singer has undeniable talent that led her to release an Afropop album called
Back ToPublic Demand in 2018. Which is quite different from her soulful debut Paukwa in 2010.Check out this Swahili song that has completely won over my heart, and say Hello again to Dela.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo9MZVz88Ro]
3. Sanaipei Tande
Sanaipei Tande or Sana if you like, is the only remaining singer from Kenya’s musical trio “Sema” of Coca Cola Popstars. If you remember this group, it might be time to look out for white hairs.
Even though they broke up in 2005, Sana has successfully managed to stay relevant in the industry through music and radio as well. It’s also helped that she is so effortlessly sexy #wcw. Luckily she not only has the looks, but also the voice. This music video confirms both.
4. Atemi
Atemi is a diva and she knows it. I mean, what else would you call someone who has so much soul and charisma in her?
I can personally attest to this after watching her performing for the first time in 2015. She has been in the music industry since her teenage years, and she doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Carol Atemi Oyungu is famous for being the diva who just loves to sing about love. If you haven’t seen her perform live yet what are you waiting for here’s a little sneak peek for you.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5TaIPnCzr4]
5. Mayonde
Oh Mayonde… This lady is one of those precious gems that NEEDS to be shared with the whole world. Fortunately, Mayoyo is slowly making a name for herself. The sweet and saucy artist even collaborated with Kagwe Mungai, Muthoni Drummer Queen and Fena Gitu to make one of the biggest Kenyan songs of 2017.
From her Magic in the Air album, here’s your chance to groove to her Isikuti Love.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH_ISNsMXN8]
There are so many other gifted female musicians in Kenya that I probably haven’t mentioned. But if I were to go through all of them, it would surely take a whole day.
Now that you’re in on the big music secret, feel free to share other Kenyan female musicians you know who can SING.
-
5 Kenyan Ladies who can really SING
If you didn’t know by now, let me tell you a secret. There is a huge difference between singing and SINGING. Almost anyone can sing as long as they have a voice. They can belt out tunes, and even make top-charting music.
But fewer people can do the latter. Really SING. Dazzle other human beings with their exquisite voices. Or shut a room up simply by opening their mouths.
In the Kenyan music industry, these guys are way less than the singers. They are almost a rare commodity that deserve to be preserved like a national treasure. That is why this post is here – to appreciate some of the superb Kenyan vocalists right now, who just happen to be female. But don’t worry fellas, your time will come.
1. Sage
From her first single “So Alive” with Octopizzo, I immediately knew that Sage aka Barbara Ng’eno was something special. True to this, years later she still wows crowds with her musical prowess and simple yet deep lyrics. And her voice mahn is just, heaven.
Current situation: Listening to her debut album Expose Yourself.
Since the best way to witness true vocal talent is through a live performance, here she is with one of her biggest songs – Maskini.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5LB9kbVIUM]
2. Dela
Ever since she made her music comeback in 2015, Dela has proven to us why she belongs in the music game. The Kenyan female singer has undeniable talent that led her to release an Afropop album called
Back ToPublic Demand in 2018. Which is quite different from her soulful debut Paukwa in 2010.Check out this Swahili song that has completely won over my heart, and say Hello again to Dela.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo9MZVz88Ro]
3. Sanaipei Tande
Sanaipei Tande or Sana if you like, is the only remaining singer from Kenya’s musical trio “Sema” of Coca Cola Popstars. If you remember this group, it might be time to look out for white hairs.
Even though they broke up in 2005, Sana has successfully managed to stay relevant in the industry through music and radio as well. It’s also helped that she is so effortlessly sexy #wcw. Luckily she not only has the looks, but also the voice. This music video confirms both.
4. Atemi
Atemi is a diva and she knows it. I mean, what else would you call someone who has so much soul and charisma in her?
I can personally attest to this after watching her performing for the first time in 2015. She has been in the music industry since her teenage years, and she doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Carol Atemi Oyungu is famous for being the diva who just loves to sing about love. If you haven’t seen her perform live yet what are you waiting for here’s a little sneak peek for you.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5TaIPnCzr4]
5. Mayonde
Oh Mayonde… This lady is one of those precious gems that NEEDS to be shared with the whole world. Fortunately, Mayoyo is slowly making a name for herself. The sweet and saucy artist even collaborated with Kagwe Mungai, Muthoni Drummer Queen and Fena Gitu to make one of the biggest Kenyan songs of 2017.
From her Magic in the Air album, here’s your chance to groove to her Isikuti Love.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH_ISNsMXN8]
There are so many other gifted female musicians in Kenya that I probably haven’t mentioned. But if I were to go through all of them, it would surely take a whole day.
Now that you’re in on the big music secret, feel free to share other Kenyan female musicians you know who can SING.
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It’s All New (Videos!)
Hey Ya! If no one has done so already, let me be the first to welcome you to October (also known as my birthday month!). And being a new month, I come bearing gifts. Not gifts like iPods, shoes or free DVDs, you can get those offline. What I bring, is something way cooler.
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Why Sauti Sol’s new music video is Everything
It was only about a week ago when we were blessed with probably the most lovely music video this year. Yes, Sauti Sol FINALLY released the official music video for Isabella, the sixth single off “Live and Die in Afrika”. And it was just heaven. Or close to it. They had teased us with the lyric video for almost a week, but now we finally have the real deal. To simply put it simply, it was greater than my wildest dreams.
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Back to Our Kenyan Roots (VIDEOS)
Kenyan music is back! Don’t believe me? Then check out this list of some of Kenya’s top latest tracks.