ALBUMS DROPPING IN 2014

#MUSIC

Let us begin with the high energy of Juliani. Straight from releasing a new tune “Morio and Juliet”, a depiction of shake spear’s play Romeo and Juliet; Juliani’s album is ready. Exponential Potential drops in June after a listening party that he held on April. The exclusive listening party was well attended and has gone ahead to create all the hype and buzz around the album.

Fena dropped her debut album Fenamenon on May 16^th; and it is a must have in your collection. She gave a great performance at the UP Magazine Upstairs- April edition event and after an interview with Grapevine’s Anyiko Owoko; she did let the cat out of the bag “that Brikicho is in the album. Guys would kill me if I didn’t put it in!”  The album has been produced by Jaaz Odongo and the 15-tracked album features other producers including Kagwe Mungai.

Another first album from a gifted singer is Magic in the Air, by Mayonde- an album exploring many different genres and sounds. “It was a dream to put out an album and I’m thrilled to say that dreams do come true,” she says. Her first single will be released in May. She has worked with Mbithi Masya and Jim Chuchu, when she cites as producers of a “very playful, very sweet and so very soulful album.”

Riding high with her recent hit video “254”, is former Necessary Noize member the first lady Nazizi; who is doing touches on nine singles of her upcoming LP called Evo-luossion 14 (evolved from dream 2014). She revealed on Str8-up show, hosted by Ian Mugoya on KTN; that the album is being recorded at another Necessary Noize member’s studio (Wyre the Lovechild Records) and she features various such as Ibra, Kosta and Sappy.

“The flow is there! The Naz everyone has been asking for is here,” she says. The album will contain 4 hip hop tracks. Already 254 video is out- shot by Wallace and features Vigeti of Kalamashaka, Prezzo and members of Ukoo Flani.

This year’s MAMAS nominees Sauti Sol are also set to release their third album. Calling it a special album, they have produced it but enlisted the help of other expert musicians, producers and sound engineers like Musyoka and Aaron Rimbui. This promises to be the biggest year in their career and we wait with bated breath to see how it all unravels.

Another MAMAS nominee for best collaboration in the song Kiboko changu featuring Radio & Weasel from Uganda; Amani too is set to drop her album this year.

-by Embukane Vincent Libosso; with additional reporting courtesy of Up Magazine’s Anyiko Owoko and Budha Blaze.