Love sounds better on new Barnaba Classic album

The project sees the Tanzania House of Talents alumnus partnering with Diamond Platnumz, who is the album's executive producer, to create what should be his most celebrated body of work to date.

The 18-track album is a salute to Classic's 18 years of service in the Tanzanian music industry, and in a never-seen-before scenario, Classic, demonstrates just how likeable he is in the bongo flava fraternity by doing a full collab album, featuring both the old and emerging acts like Diamond Platnumz, Lody Music, Saraphina, Ali Kiba, Marioo, Lady Jaydee, Nandy, and many more.

 “LSD in some quarters refers to a drug. It is no different from my music which is a drug of sorts too. When you listen to my music you don't need any other substance, you will definitely be addicted,” Classic told a local TV show recently.

As the album's title suggests, Love Sounds Different explores the phenomenon of romance in all its varied spectrum right from the innocence of first love to the pain of a heartbreak.

The lead single ‘Hadithi’, featuring Diamond Platnumz, oscillates between bongo flava and baibuda styles and sets the mood of the album by explaining how addictive love can get.

Besides the Afrobeats-influenced ‘Ade’ featuring Dayoo, and ‘Mzuri’ with Marioo which has some elements of African gospel and rumba, the rest of the songs shows Classic's strong commitment to bongo flava as debate that Tanzanian music is being overshadowed by foreign sounds rages on.

For local music crusaders such as Mwana FA, Roma Mkatoliki, AY, Ali Kiba and Ommy Dimpoz who have openly criticised the mainstream attention that South Africa's amapiano and Nigeria’s Afrobeats enjoy in Tanzania, Love Sounds Different should be music to their ears.

Tracks like ‘Only You’ and ‘Ongeza’ perfectly shows why Classic is often cited as one of the best Tanzanian songwriters. The strength of Love Sounds Different lies in its rich lyrical composition. ‘Hunitaki’ featuring Mbosso has one of the most memorable lyrics on the album, while ‘Tamba’ featuring Kusah is one of the very few bongo flava songs that has hooks in the first few lines.

Songs featuring female singers have solidified Classic's reputation as the king of trading emotional verses. Without a doubt, the love duets show Barnaba has managed two hit a sweet spot and create a balance between the old and new generation of female artists in Tanzania.

Despite the high praise, one criticism that has been levelled at Classic is that the project plays it safe by not experimenting beyond his boundaries. His decision to only employ the ubiquitous bongo flava sound has made the album somewhat anaemic.

That said, the album’s soothing lyrics, catchy hooks, well-executed vocal interplay, and smooth beat arrangement should make it the soundtrack of many a bedroom escapades.