When an 18-year-old Tamy Moyo Moyo came onto the scene with her debut album The 18th Rollercoaster almost a decade ago, she was a marvel to behold. It was almost an instant love affair between fans and artists. Driven by songs like "Ndibereke" and "The Bhundu," the singer weaved her way into our hearts. A new Afro-pop sensation had arrived.
Now years and another album later from that debut, it feels like we're once again getting introduced to the artist. While not anything as dramatic as Baba Harare's switch from jit to gospel, Tamy Moyo's latest album is a daring work of storytelling. Bold is an intrepid exploration of emotions and global sounds that presents Tamy in a new light.
Where previous albums had a pop sound closely tied to traditional Zimbabwean rhythms, Bold feels more like an embrace of contemporary global trends. The Zimbabwean identity is still there but it is encased in one foreign sonic influence or the other. Bold is touched with the influences of pop, soul, RnB, Amapiano and Afro-house. While closer to home the influences Jah Prayzah, Alick Macheso, Winky D, the late Chiwoniso Maraire, and Soul Jah Love are also clear to see.
Bold presents a certain vulnerability in the stories it tells and although infectious in rhythm it dives deeper than just feel-good anthems. "Bvunza" kicks off the project and it is a track about self-belief that sets the tone for the album. Although an Afrobeats song, it has a certain jazz feel bubbling underneath.
"Kwatoenda" comes up next and it switches sound to Zimdancehall, a clear homage to the departed Soul Jah Love. It is a celebration of going where you're loved, and although different in sound it continues the theme of knowing who you are and the right place for you.
"Husiku Hwese" raises up the already vibrant energy of Bold. It brings to mind the sounds of Sungura in some of its elements and it interpolates the popular Zimbabwean childhood song that goes "Kajuice kana kasoda." Tamy Moyo's sonic exploration seems to pull in several different directions but the nature of her vocal delivery is a constant, and that brings everything together.
On "Sondela" she softly serenades us with a story of love over a pop-influenced Amapiano beat, while "Ghosted" has a soulful contemporary RnB nature. Whether reflecting on brief dalliances or longer-lasting moments, Tamy Moyo regularly explores the subject of love. "Chinono" which talks about a realization of feelings that came too late, once again has a touch of the log drum and it has the DNA of a Jah Prayzah song.
"Yahwe" sees Tamy going spiritual and exulting God before she walks in the light with Mr Brown's produced Afro house track "Mwenje." While pop artists oftentimes have projects that feel like a pursuit of trends, Bold seems to just have pieces that fit. From Walking in the Light, "The Road" embraces everything currently in vogue about pop music and it would easily be home on any global pop chart.
One of the keys to Bold's musical tapestry is the production, which is the combined work of Levels, Mr Brown, Rodney Beatz, Pablo, WayneBeatz and Spirit Fingerz.
"Rasta" samples Winky D's two decades old hit "Ndiri Rasta" to give the album a fitting summation. As she's done throughout the other 10 tracks, Tamy displays deft alterations in a cadence that fits the mould of whatever inspiration she's currently following.
Bold is not only an exploration of emotions and global sounds but also a tribute to Zimbabwean music and a homage to artists that have inspired Tamy Moyo. And looked at in this frame of thought, its flaws become fleeting. If I could nitpick, I would say I'm only disappointed "Kelly Kelvedhura" didn't make the cut, because it would've been right at home with Bold's eclectic nature.
Greedysouth rating: 7.1/10
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