“A breathtaking mix of catharsis, weariness, and aspiration flickers like golden fireworks through “Nazama,” the final track on Nyokabi Kariũki’s forthcoming FEELING BODY. Borne from a period of extended illness, a gauntlet of emotions emerges from an aqueous soundworld, where recovery opens pathways to growth and reflection. Kariũki uses layers of her voice to create her own choir, buoying the aquatic field recordings and shifting through liquid sonic movements.
“‘Nazama’ means ‘to sink’ in Kiswahili,” Kariũki explains, “and the lyrics are based on a memory of when I learned how to swim within larger, seemingly scarier, ocean waves than I was used to.” As the piece builds through full submersion, light appears in the distance. The music pushes us forward, hopeful for reprieve but aware the journey is far from over.”
