Elsy Wameyo channels inner Kenyan on debut LP

The Kenyan born, Australia-based singer has poured her heart and soul into the project that is at once a journey of musical experimentation and a road to self-discovery.

The EP released last week, and out via Music in Exile, sees the artist put to good use her self-taught skills across production, song writing and singing, to unravel her feelings and thoughts on what it means to be a Kenyan living in Adelaide in 2022.

In an interview with NME last month, the artist spoke of her deep connection with the land of her forefathers and why she decided to name the LP Nilotic. 

“When you look back to the past, the Nilotes came from Egypt through South Sudan, and then through migration everyone came through Kenya and Uganda,” Elsy said. “I had this picture of all my ancestors running down the River Nile, looking for a place to rest and stay and call home. As Nilotes we dispersed into all these countries, we ended up where we are, [but] this Nile still continues to sustain us.”

In the six self-produced tracks, Elsy is evidently a woman who has found her voice both as singer and activist as she poses tough questions about heritage, social equity and justice – processing frustration, sadness and offering hope through her music. 

The genre-bending collection fuses gospel (picked from by singing in church choirs at an early age) and traditional sacred sounds (imparted by her Luo Nilotes people of Kenya), alongside contemporary hip hop and R&B influences. 

“Nilotic is the by-product of God’s grace in my life. What you will hear is the journey of a confident, frustrated and sad Elsy trying to claim back, fix and uproot the evil of this world,” Elsy said during the release of the EP.

 “However, what you won’t see is the spiritual journey I took, where I learnt, through obedience and true faith, that alone I am a mere mortal, but with him I can do all things. This EP was never the point. God, in his full grace, chose to bless me with a product I can use to showcase his works in my life.”

Since she began releasing music in 2018, Elsy has shared stages with top global artists such as Grammy award-winner Printz Board, Maségo, Sampa the Great, Adrian Eagle and Hilltop Hoods.

The singer, rapper and producer has also been featured on numerous ‘ones to watch’ lists in Australia, including Red Bull and triple j Unearthed, and received applause from the country's leading industry publications like Acclaim, Sniffers, NME, Purple Sneakers, Pilerats, Complex and more.

Nilotic EP track list

‘River Nile’ is a low slung bass melody that sees Elsy hit hard with fire-speed raps and choral shout-outs taken from a chopped out sample.

‘Promise’ is a jazzy tune led by trumpets that mark Elsy’s arrival as she speaks to knowing your own worth, and paving a journey that is never defined by the external influences of this world.

‘Sulwe’ is written in Elsy’s Dholuo mother tongue and translates to star. It takes inspiration from Lupita Nyong’o’s book of the same name, with Elsy delving  into defining the star that lives inside everyone.

‘The Call’ is Elsy’s ad-lib introduction to Nilotic. Written from a first take in the studio, ‘The Call’ is an ululation, tone-setter and a call to the singer’s community warriors and fellow Nilotes to gather around.

 ‘Nilotic’ is an assertive and telling story of how Elsy sees the world and the spiritual journey she embarked on to arrive there. Sampled shout-outs are interspersed throughout, as the track concludes with the resounding final words, “never forget who you are”. 

‘Hunger’ is the single Elsy claims was the most difficult of the EP to write. Deeply personal, introspective and built from hours of pain-staking research, the finale is the last puzzle piece to complete the EP’s journey of self-identity and strength.