Music Review: Olusi Nebowa – Maurice Kirya

Maurice Kirya has an album coming up. When Maurice announces that he is about to drop an album, folks sit up and pay attention. He might be one of the few artistes out in the marketplace that still grasps what an album represents. This one will be called This Is Happening.

The preemptive single from the album is Olusi Nebowa, a walking tempo track that is mostly acoustic guitar, sleek vocals and possibly the lightest percussion you will hear this year. The song clocks in at 3 minutes 26 seconds so you know it will be more than the verse and chorus nonsense we are fed by today's talent.

I am going to say from the off that I love the song. It’s an introspective song, one that doesn't get too self-indulgent. It is built across a peach of a melody, going back to basics. The music is always about the melody, that is what works, and this melody is catchy, easy to roll along with, like an old friend, and comfy. This man could teach s songwriting class.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbUdYi4oY0I

The acoustic guitar is vital to how this song is produced, and that, friends, is Myko Ouma, who is one of the people you want to listen to on an acoustic. The heathens out there love it when Myko is playing an electric guitar but nobody interprets soul on the guitar like Myko on an acoustic. He is subtle, and his technical prowess really comes to the fore. On Olusi Nebowa, Myko gets that guitar to talk.

On the production boards is another familiar face as far as Maurice Kira is concerned - Sam Bisaso, who is unfairly talented. He plays gorgeous melodic base, is annoyingly good on keys, and is a calm, steadying influence in the studio.

I cannot think of anyone else who is able to interpret Maurice's music as effectively as he does. Bisaso creates an environment for songs, a place for the song to take a seat, have a coffee and breathe. 

Olusi Nebowa is a technical marvel of sorts, with how unassuming and compete it sounds, because that is what Maurice is going for, and because Bisaso understands this and delivers it.

Most importantly, the singing on this track is incomparable. Maurice has matured along nicely as an artiste, taking his highs and lows in stride. On Olusi Nebowa, he takes a difficult song and delivers one of his most thoughtful performances ever. It seems effortless - it is not. It is a masterclass in vocal control.

And finally, this is the sort of music that reminds our city that even while we are still being assaulted by Gloria Bugie's voice as she performs songs like Nyash, there is still some beautiful music being put out.