Artist: Liz Ogumbo
Country: Kenya
Genre: Neo Soul / World Nu Jazz
Influences: Jazz and blues
http://content.omroep.nl/ghettoradio/musicblog/liz_ogumbo_feat_wakamba_wawili_never_knew.mp3 Track: Never Knew, feat. Wakamba Wawili
Why Liz?
She caught me off guard, to be honest. I'd met Liz on like a couple of occasion, even worked with her under different circumstances, so when I come across her music while fulfilling some other African music duties, I was truly surprised.
First, that a model and designer - she is very successful at both back home in Kenya - can make music of this quality. And not that pop stuff, but honest, beautiful music from the heart.
http://content.omroep.nl/ghettoradio/musicblog/liz_ogumbo_feat_just_a_band_maro_pa_more.mp3 Track: Maro Pa More, feat Just A Band
Secondly, that she just slipped these tracks out without much fanfare when in Africa, in general (yes, it is a generalisation), you can count Neo Soul artists on the fingers of one hand, so when a terrific one such as Liz comes along you'd think there'd be a big splash.
Her music has never been officially released, so I guess you're getting a taste of a new artist, and I invite you to listen to what she has to offer. If you close your eyes - besides the fact that some of her lyrics are in Luo or Swahili; she also sings in French - you may think you are listening to someone who isn’t from this continent. But then you listen to what she's actually saying, the thoughts she's expressing, and how she mixes it up in these local languages, and you understand her relevance to Africa, too.
http://content.omroep.nl/ghettoradio/musicblog/liz_ogumbo_ubuntu.mp3 Track: Ubuntu
I really wasn’t expecting a voice like that and song writing abilities to come with it either. This beautiful lady caught me off guard, and I'm so glad she did 'cos I like her as a person and as an artist, and it's great to get such a pleasant surprise.
Nice to know she wants to make music for your soul, that'll stay with you on life's journey as opposed to quick-fix fast-food music that'll leave you trying to work off the excess junk when the next ephemeral trend comes along.
Liz, go ahead and do your thing!
http://content.omroep.nl/ghettoradio/musicblog/liz_ogumbo_big_ass_in_the_blue_jeans.mp3 Track: Big Ass in Blue Jeans
Liz on the Web
On MySpace
On Facebook
Twitter
Imani House of Fashion
Crazy About Kenya (Interview with Liz)
Baobab Connections
