NATIVE Selects: New Music From Uncle Waffles, Kel-P, Ami Faku & more
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Every week, new music shows up, sweeping fans and music lovers off their feet while artists gauge reactions to know the effect of their creativity. At the NATIVE, we are committed to keeping our ears on the pulse of the music scene and bringing the best sounds to your doorstep. In our last edition, we brought you new releases from Anything With Mr Eazi, A-Reece, NSG and more. Today, we have songs that move from Afropop to Amapiano to R&B, with our select artists showcasing their unending talent and passion for creativity. Lock in!
UNCLE WAFFLES – “ECHOES”
South Africa’s township sounds, Amapiano, have taken over the sounds from this side and Uncle Waffles is one of the genre’s key players responsible for this inimitable growth. Off the back of her sophomore EP, ‘Asylum’ released earlier this year, Waffles draws us further into her world with “Echoes,” the first promotional single off her debut album, ‘An Asylum of Solace’. The kick of log drums and percussion instruments, commonplace in the genre, reannounce the talented DJ’s comeback after a brief hiatus. On “Echoes,” we see the princess of Amapiano create a perfect synergy with R&B singers, Lusanda and Manana with an array of gleaming melodies that set apart from the bass heavy & shaker led sound she’s known for.
KEL P – “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?(AMAPIANO REMIX)”
The Nigerian A list producer, known famously for his producer tag, “It’s Kel P vibes!” has been a vital player in shaping Afrobeat as we know it today. In recent years, he began establishing himself in the music industry as a vocalist with songs like “One More Night” and “True Love.” Kel P has always made music that gets people on their feet and “What Have You Done?” is no exception with its upbeat tempo and soulful pipes. He inches even further with the Amapiano remix of “What Have You Done?” providing a smooth blend of melodies and intoxicating beats. This only stands to prove his versatility and a mastery of his craft.
BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS – “REDEMPTION SONG” FT AMI FAKU
No one can deny the legend that is Bob Marley and his evident input to Reggae music and music as a whole. On his recently released album dubbed ‘Africa Unite,’ he taps a slew of talents across the continent including Rema, Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage and more to deliver reimagined version of his classics. A standout out cut from the 10-tracker is Ami Faku-asssited “Redemption song,” a fan favourite till this day. Faku’s mellifluous vocals take on the second verse as she croons across the track’s mid-tempo caribbean-inspired instrumentals. She offers a refreshing take on the song of emancipation, armed with verses English and Xhosa.
MASTERKRAFT & UGOCCIE – “TODAY ORINGO”
Ojapiano is slowly becoming a recurring theme is mainstream music from these parts since Kcee’s “Ojapiano” hit the airwaves. The intoxicating oja chords are layered seamlessly with the Afro-House sound on “Today Oringo,” the latest effort of Nigerian producer, Masterkraft. He taps fast rising musician, Ugoccie for a melodious rendition tucked in by lyrical embellishments from Igbo and English roots. The captivating number showcases the pair as they fantasise about the success and money they see in their future.
DEJ LOAF – “PLEASE DON’T GO” FT TENI & CHEEKYCHIZZY
American singer and songwriter, Dej loaf has delivered a powerful song with the Nigerian talents, Teni and Cheekychizzy. “Please Don’t Go” shines light on the massive talent of everyone on it and the unification power of music, with a melting pot of Afropop and R&B. Cheekychizzy’s production allows for a beautiful synergy of Dej Loaf and Teni’s captivating vocals, as they pour out their hearts with stark vulnerability on the need to keep a relationship alive.
L.A.X – “LOCKDOWN”
The Afropop singer LAX joins some of the genre’s greats in A COLORS STUDIO performance of his song for the summer, “Lockdown.” The performance which serves as his first release since his EP, ‘No Bad Vibes,’ kicks off with the signature drums and a melodic tune. The love song infused with a few Yoruba lyrics calls out to his lover, emphasising how she puts him on a lockdown because she is the best. “My baby better/ better than the rest ah.”
AZANA – “SHONA MALANGA” FT. AMANHLE
Ahead of her sophomore LP, ‘IGAGU’, Azana peels back another layer of her artistry with help of Amahle for her recently released single, “Shona Malanga.” The gleaming Afro-House production showcases the pair engaging in. colourful celebration of love. Their lush vocals glide in and out of the upbeat record as they croon over the mid-cadence instrumentals armed with lyrics in Xhosa and IsiZulu.
ODEAL – “REPERCUSSIONS”
Over the past couple of releases, Odeal has established himself as a masterful producer and singer-songwriter with tracks like “Coffee” and “Be Easy.” He reiterates his dextrous artistry on his recent release dubbed “Repercussions.” The smooth track initially leads in with gloomy, twinkling keys and only to be met by a captivating drum sequence and Odeal’s sonorous vocals. He expertly rides the wave of the beat as he sings of bearing the consequences of his ill-treatment of his love interest.
Words by Chigoziri Ezeaku and Nwanneamaka Igwe
Featured Image credits/The NATIVE
Maya Amolo Is Committed To Giving You The Sweetest Time
There’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the...
“Sweetest Time,” Maya Amolo’s latest single, is a soothing, lovesick confessional that mixes intimate, heartfelt lyricism with wistful production courtesy of Ugandan musician and producer SOULCHYD aka MAUIMØON. Alongside fellow Kenyan singer Ywaya Tajiri, the self-acclaimed sweetest girl delivers a lustrous duet that sees her soft vocals, which perfectly complement Tajiri’s more robust voice, skip and flit across moody synths, intensifying the spotlight on her wholehearted delivery. “I can feel you rushing through my system / Every single day it’s my religion,” she sings passionately halfway into the record. The whole thing sounds like the aural equivalent of a warm blanket; a truly affectionate record that immerses and envelopes its listeners in its warmth. This is the brand of vulnerable, understated R&B music that has been helping Amolo gain significant attention since she debuted in the pandemic year.
Born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Amolo always had an affinity for music. The singer and producer, who took on piano and guitar lessons as a child, has previously credited acts like Brandy, Erykah Badu, Prince, and Kenyan musical icon Eric Wainaina as her early influences – and it’s easy to see how Amolo’s style draws from this strong lineage of musicians whose music is equally expansive, soothing and vulnerable. After years experimenting with different styles, recording covers to beats she ripped from YouTube and posting them on her Soundcloud page, Amolo released her debut project ‘Leave Me At The Pregame’ in 2020.
The EP, which quickly soared up the charts in Kenya, served as a brief but emphatic introduction to Amolo’s minimalistic take on R&B. Standouts like the emotive opener “Puddles,” “Lush Green”, and “Jokes” showcase her clever and poignant lyricism that reflects on themes of love, depression, and self-healing. Along with sparse, melancholic production and the icy sensuality of her voice, Amolo delivered a remarkable debut that made her one of the most promising figures in Nairobi’s alternative music scene. Two years after ‘Leave Me At The Pregame,’ the Kenyan rising star released her debut album, ‘Asali.’
‘Asali,’ which translates to “honey” in her native Kiswahili, showcased Amolo’s progression as both an artist and a human being, as she swapped out the sad-girl tunes that filled her debut EP for more vibrant and intricate records – thanks in part to Sir Bastien and Kenyan producer and rapper Lukorito – that explore themes of growth and the complexities and rich luster of love. The album’s lead singles, “Foundry” and the self-produced “Can’t Get Enough,” found relative success on streaming platforms, placing Amolo as one of the continent’s most exciting new R&B voices. About a year after the release of ‘Asali,’ Amolo updated the album with 8 new songs on a deluxe version that featured Kenyan stars like Bensoul, Xenia Manasseh and Zowie Kengocha.
In August 2024, a few months after she delivered a splendid Colors performance, Amolo released a new project titled ‘What a Feeling.’ The 5-track EP, which essentially serves as an ode to Amolo’s home city, Nairobi, sees her experimenting with an array of dance sub-genres without straying too far from her R&B roots. While the project still retains much of the melancholy and elegance that defined her earlier work, there’s a hypnotic and pulsating energy that courses through ‘What A Feeling,’ that highlights a shift in the singer’s sensibilities. Amolo’s honeyed vocals gently seep through subtle Dancehall, Electronic, R&B and House-inspired production and the accompanying visualizer, a mashup of camcorder footage of her and her friends in Nairobi, also adequately captures the charming and nocturnal vibe of the tape.
The project produced standout tracks like the sensual “Let It Flow,” the title track and “Take It,” which later got remixed by Ugandan singer Soundlykbb and rapper SGawD. With Amolo’s latest release, “Sweetest Girl,” the Kenyan rising star continues her intricate exploration of R&B music, merging it with varying styles to produce her own distinct and refreshing variant. There’s no telling what Amolo might do next, but with only a handful of releases to her name so far, there’s undoubtedly more to come from the talented singer as she looks to solidify herself as one of the genre’s most prominent faces across the continent.
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T.I Blaze Updates ‘Shakur’ EP With Deluxe Version
Following the success of “Trenches Luv,” the street-pop star is back with seven new songs on the deluxe...
Over the last few years, street-pop, a guttural version of afropop, has surged to mainstream popularity, birthing stars like Asake, Seyi Vibez, and Shallipopi. On the homefront, a generation of younger stars also put unique spins on the sound. Singer, T.I Blaze, has been a notable star in the sub-genre since his 2021 single, “Sometimes,” and a subsequent remix with icon, Olamide, launched him into a different stratosphere.
Since “Sometimes,” Blaze has established his profile as a reliable source for songs that reflect the pulse of the streets while archiving his come-up story across a debut album (‘El Major’) and three extended plays like ‘The Fresh Prince Of Lagos’ and ‘Dangerous Wavy Baby.’ His 2024 EP, ‘Shakur,’ further underscored his evolution as an artist, featuring slippery numbers about escapism, his thoughts on life in the fast lane, and brotherhood with features from rising stars like Tml Vibez and BhadBoi Oml.
In 2025, the singer has picked up where he left off last year, releasing “Trenches Luv,” a balmy February release that examines the dynamics of romance from his point of view as a young adult moulded by the hard realities of life on the street. The success of “Trenches Luv” has led to a deluxe version of ‘Shakur’ with the singer adding seven new songs to the original version of the project. Impressively, on the new version of the project, TI Blaze taps up Ayo Maff and Ghanaian star Arathejay on “My Brother” and “Mario Remix,” respectively.
Led by a galala-inflected opener, “Track 1,” ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ is both raw and complex with the singer sounding refreshed on songs like “My Brother,” “Dodge,” and “Introduction.” In many ways, this project is an invitation for listeners to explore the many facets of T.I Blaze’s artistry as well as a portent to celebrate his roots and offer a glimpse at his evolution.
Listen to ‘Shakur (Deluxe)’ here.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
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