Swahili R&B love ballads laid on a reggae beat; singer – songwriter Otile Brown releases his first album “Just In Love

BY EMBUKANE LIBOSSO

My first introduction to Otile Brown’s music was the up-tempo Nasema Nawe collaboration with Tanzania’s Barakah The Prince. There was something about his music delivery, especially when it came to love songs that just drew me in. He also had this macho type of vibe in the music video. Every move he made, him licking his lips, his facial expressions when he danced or sang captured the moments perfectly.

Soon, he was moving from breakup love songs to wedding-ready love songs, delivering a series of hits. His female fans sing along to tracks like ‘Baby Love’, ‘Mapenzi Hisia’, ‘Aiyana’ and ‘Chaguo La Moyo (featuring Sanaipei Tande) and has been played at every wedding I have ever attended since its release.

Now, on his first debut studio album project, Otile Brown recruits a couple of friends from the region and explores love. If anything, the album explores “Love and the relationship between men and women, while drawing inspiration from a variety of different musical genres, from R&B to Afropop,” Otile Brown said.  “My fans should be prepared for a musical feast for the senses. Expect nothing but flames. I believe in this album, and I’ll be able to win over new fans because the vibes are different from what many are used to.”

Since being named by Billboard as the most-watched Kenyan artist on YouTube, it is only right we kick off this review looking at the music videos.

Hit & Run featuring the OG Khaligraph Jones is a trap infused anthem. It is the first official video off the album, and we see Otile Brown for the first time toasting over a beat. Yeah, he raps.

As the title suggests, the songs explore infidelity in relationships, especially when one partner’s priorities are not at the right place. The video is balanced between indoor house scenes and outdoor sunny scenes.

The second video off the project was the zouk anthem, Dusuma, with Rwandan pop star, Meddy. The simple video uses social media apps videos from fans singing along on platforms like Tik Tok, Snapchat and Instagram. Dusuma is infectious and tickles your feet to want to dance with your love partner because of that bouncy beat. The groove captures you from the onset.

Bongo R&B star Juma Jux joins Otile Brown on heaping praises for Regina, a girl who stood by him despite the difficult times. Renowned for his impressive vocals, Jux brings that magic on the track. Brown is quite laid back on this one providing those amazing repetitive hooks on the chorus.

Another euphoric collaboration on the album is Leila, with Burundi’s legendary musician Kidum. Kidum has this thing when you listen to him. He sings to the soul even when a song is cheesy like Leila. Leila deserves to be listened live, so all the instruments felt. The banter between Otile Brown and Kidum is one for the books.

The arrangements are elaborate, especially when you come to the up-tempo Afro-pop tracks on the album: Kosea, Zaidi Yako and Pretty Gal. Watoto Na Pombe is another up-tempo Afro-pop collaboration with Mejja. The song addresses today’s hook-up culture over drinks. Towards the end, he hails up all the popular lounges and clubs, perhaps in return a club banger endorsement with these club deejays.

Umedamshi is a track on the album that I believe was made down at the coastal island, and maybe Otile Brown had a joint lit while the Mombasa breeze was flowing into the studios. He had perhaps spotted a beautiful lady or even perhaps his girlfriend was in the studio. The producer had this reggae-influenced instrumental and in one take, Otile Brown laid the track. There is a special beauty between Swahili R&B love ballads laid on a reggae beat. I’m a sucker for such songs.

This album is sexy, and not mushy, perhaps Brown’s most diverse, yet seamless album.

Tracks:

1. Regina Ft. Juma Jux
2. Dede
3. Hit &Run Ft. Khaligraph Jones
4. Vibe
5. Leila Ft. Kidum
6. Kosea
7. Umedamshi
8. Dusuma
9. Watoto na Pombe Ft. Mejja
10. Zaidi Yako
11. Pretty Girls