Netsayi "Queen of Afrofolk"

I don't know what to say - I love it and I want to share it with you all... But where to start?!

I'll start from the top of what I know about Netsayi.  Netsayi is a singer songwriter who was born in London but grew up in Zimbabwe.  Sho creates (now along with her band Black Pressure) a kind of music I can't find a 'box' for, apart from to steal someone elses - Afrofolk.  But frankly, if someone told me to listen to Afrofolk music I probably wouldn't bother.

I would say that her sound is more Africa than strictly London, but that could be contested.  Regardless of songs occasionally being sung in a language that I don't understand (this doesn't really matter to me), it's the strong and sometimes complicated rhythms that I just can't seem to replicate that for me hold the key to it's African influences.  The subject matter, though it may be approached in a different way than a strictly UK artist, still covers life, love and friendship among other things.  Netsayi's vocal melodies are strong, assertive, playful, unpredictable... there are a whole raft of things that make Netsayi unique.

I first came across Netsayi in 2009 when I was asked to review her second album Monkey's Wedding.  At the time I was reviewing a lot of music I wasn't particularly interested in, but when I started playing Monkey's Wedding it was, for lack of a better phrase, a breath of fresh air - immediately something worth listening to rather than just churning out words.  For me Monkey's Wedding was an album that bridged two cultures and made each accessible to the other.  Let's face it - unless I go looking for it, I'm unlikely to just come across African music but I love listening to Ishe Komberera, which I've since found out was the Zimbabwean anthem after gaining independence.  The a cappella  harmonies hold what I consider to be the sound of African music, where it's not uncommon for there to be three or four melodies intermingling; harmonising and coming together at different points throughout a song.

Aside from this there are favourites aplenty throughout the album.  Both in terms of lyrical and musical content Money Drum will probably be relatable to most people.  "Working all the hours that God sends me, Working nine to five just to make ends meet, Everybody must pay their liberty, But what a price to pay" and "I gave up struggling for the crazy rent, Sold my sorry soul to the devil instead, I was showing my teeth and dancing around, To the beat of the money drum".  We've all been there...

Top Cop is an fantastic example of story telling through music and I defy you not to dance in your seat to the music.  The upbeat sound that makes this album to easy to move around to is one of it's biggest draws.  Weaves And Magazines, with it's laid back bass line and hand claps should be a song about lazy afternoons on a beach somewhere but it soon makes way for it's true subject matter "The bitchy apple, It don't fall far from the tree, So I don't know why I was surprised, To hear you talking s*** about me".  We later find out that the subjects mother was, in fact, a f****** b****, so I suppose that all makes sense then!

More recently, in June 2014, Netsayi & Black Pressure released the track Sara Regina.  If anything, I like this even more than anything of Monkey's Wedding.  I'd love to know what it's really about, but in the meantime you can download it from iTunes for a mere 79p or head over to netsayi.com where you can watch a recording of the track.  

Music: It's the iTunes remix...

Something I haven't done in a while - I'm going to hit random on my iTunes and tell you all about the first ten songs it picks for me.  No shame here - if it comes up with the garage remix of Britney's Toxic I'll tell you all... I just might not be particularly complimentary about it.  

Crystal Fighters - At Home

From the album Star of Love, for those of you who have never come across them Crystal Fighters combine traditional Basque influences with dance music.  This is a track that I don't often listen to, favouring Follow or Plage, but it's a euphoric and melodic track that deserves a little more recognition.  Thank you, randomiser, for reminding me it exists.

India Arie - Brown Skin

What I'm listening to is an acoustic version of the track but I love it.  It's slow and smooth, and India Arie's voice is rich and velvety smooth.

Rihanna - S&M

Yeah, and so what?  I'm never sure if I like Rihanna because it's good or because I think I can sing the songs.  Either way, she makes good, honest pop music - she should be everything I hate because it sort of sounds like everything else but she seems like a beautiful rebel, and what could be wrong with that?

The Who - The Kids Are Alright

Phew - thank goodness, getting the credentials back after my Rihanna blip.  I don't need to say much about this track - no one needs me to tell them it should be heard.

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same

Probably not my favourite Led Zeppelin song but still, thumbs up (of course).  I prefer Good Times Bad Times, Dazed and Confused, Black Dog... But still, I don't get to choose.

The Libertines - The Man Who Would Be King

The Libertines...  Well they were good, but I've never been overly interested.  A couple of tracks I'll listen to on repeat (Campaign of Hate) but that's about it.  Bring on the outrage telling me I'm missing something or other blah blah blah...!!  

New Cassettes - Heart Don't Beat Right

Great example of indie dance music from the noughties.  I can't say that I ever listened to another track by the New Cassettes, but I imagine now it would be like meeting your hero - always a disappointment.  I don't want to ruin them for myself if everything else is rubbish.  Advice from anyone who has listened to them more is welcome!

Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night (MTV Unplugged)

An American traditional folk song now most associated with blues musician Lead Belly.  I love Nirvana's version because Kurt Cobain applies such emotion to the track.  It starts as a quiet questioning but towards the end strangled cries of lyrics are completely compelling (as they ever are) and complimented by that haunting backing track.

Ladyhawk - Dusk Till Dawn (The Shoes Remix)

Never listened to this before - came with the single.  Ruined a good song.  Listen to the original.  End.

Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line

End on a high.  One of my favourite Johnny Cash tracks - I love all the different pitches he manages.  A good starter a Johnny Cash newbie who's only ever heard Ring of Fire. 

Music: Lorde - Pure Heroine

Don't you think that it's boring how people talk - making smart with their words again well I'm bored.  That's how Lorde begins her debut album Pure Heroine with opening track Tennis Court, and with the recent online hate campaign I hope it's a line she really believes in.  Lorde is a talented 17 year old with an obvious interest in poetry and little (it seems) interest in most icons of popular culture - thank goodness!

She's had a couple of instances of honesty - including describing Nicki Minaj and Lana del Ray's musical content as irrelevant and, reportedly, called One Direction ugly.  This in mind, the only negative thing Lorde does is apologise and back track.  Not used to someone who has an opinion on their favourite stars that isn't entirely positive, the 'Internet' retaliated by posting photos of Lorde with her boyfriend, complete with abuse.

There are two things to learn from this - firstly, the Internet doesn't like it when someone has an honest opinion, and secondly One Direction fans are aggressive.  Don't mess with the One Direction fans.

Talking of an honest opinion, let's get back to mine!  Lorde's album is a great example of pop music that doesn't have to conform the rest of the dross you find in the charts today.  The variety of styles that have clearly influenced the album, along with mostly (not all) meaningful lyrics make it stand out through originality and innovation.

The most well known track, Royals, which reached number 1 in the UK singles charts (look at me listening to chart music without even knowing it....), does hold far more relevance to me that anything Nicki Minaj et al has released.  It's being a normal person in a normal town, but being bombarded by images and songs about money and bling: "But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece, jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash - we don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair".  Much more relatable than someone telling me to pound the alarm (what? what alarm? I completely don't understand).

Buzzcut Season is another must listen.  It manages to be both upbeat and melancholic completely simultaneously and without being mismatched.  Lorde explained buzzcut season previously as being the summer when the boys all get too hot and get buzzcuts.  And while this is nice, I interpret the song as having much more depth than just a haircut.  "Explosions on TV and all the girls with heads inside their dreams, so now we live beside the pool where everything is good" or "The men upon the news they try to tell us all that we will lose, but it's so easy in this blue where everything is good".  To me, it's about ignoring harsh realities and living in a dreamland where the world's problems don't exist - but equally it's not judging people living that way.  

In a recent interview Lorde said: "I don't play any instruments, so my voice needs to have the focus.  My vocal-scape is really important".  Buzzcut Season really is the track where this holds most truth - the chorus, the melody and rhythm of Lorde's voice makes it a powerful section, complimented by how the rhythm of the music kicks in almost out of nowhere.  It's uncomplicated but striking.

Glory and Gore is a dark and intimidating track, that paints it's picture as well as a film.  "There's a humming in the restless summer air, and we're slipping off the course that we prepared" and "Now we're in the ring and we're coming for blood - you can try and take us, but we're the gladiators... but secretly they're saviors".  The talent for strong imagery is repeated in White Teeth Teens where it becomes easy to imagine that particular kind of teen (it isn't restricted to teens...) where Lorde is their top lady - their Regina George (can't believe I just referenced Mean Girls) - and again, the laid back verse gives way just at the right second to a 60s inspired beat, all very simple but clearly and precisely planned that way.

So with a spattering of dark and eerie, a beat on Team that could be for Dizzee Rascal and a number 1 hit what could you lose by listening to Lorde?  Better than One Direction (bring it on Directioners).

You can find all of Lorde's numerous social networking profiles via her her website.