Etana ft Chizi – Look At You

Etana, a contemporary reggae artist from Jamaica, makes soulful, uplifting conscious music. Dan Aceda, a benga act popularly known as Chizi, is known for sweet melodies and a unique storytelling skill, qualities naming him among the most iconic voices from Kenya.

Together they have made 'Look to You', a song that loses its appeal upon repeated listens. There is little exciting about the rhythm, as reggae music has a generic element found in many songs made in the genre.

Some creativity from the production team and 'Look to You' might have been better. As the 'Crown Prince of Benga', Aceda, the featured act here, might have introduced elements from his benga genre into the song, thus making it memorable. Vocally, he falters, falling short of his previous songs and of other collaborations in his style.

The lyrics are not much better. While inspirational, they are at odds with the video as the latter fails to affirm if the words "Sometimes I run, sometimes I fall ... but every time, I look to you" are directed to God or a lover. The video, which is fairly well-shot, shows a choir merely swing left to right, mouths shut and dancing not very capably.

Nonetheless, Aceda deserves commendation for crossing borders with his music. On that score, congratulations to Chizi.

Buy 'I Look to You' on ITunes