H_art the Band injects soul, faith and passion into Simple Man

Although most current Kenyan popular music falls in the latter category, with a bit of extra digging one would discover that substance isn’t necessarily lacking but somewhat overlooked. It’s why H_art the Band’s third album Simple Man is arguably the best Kenyan pop album of the year so far.

The band is made up of spoken-word artist Wachira ‘Skoko’ Gatama, lead singer Mordecai Mwini and guitarist Kenneth ‘Kenchez’ Muya, who is also a fashion designer and the reason that the group’s members have been labelled as fashion icons.

The new EP carries their signature poetic lyrics delivered in English, Kiswahili, French and sheng (street slang). It offers a more mature perspective than the boy band has presented to date through its discography, through catchy tracks and a cohesive sound. With six acoustically recorded tracks during the first phase of production, H_art the Band tackles themes of love and loss as well as the highs and lows of life. Each track has the propensity to change the listener’s mood with an array of tempos, lyrical content and sonic pickings.

The title track ‘Simple Man’ leads off this collection. It starts off with vocal tension and a swelling guitar riff before the introduction of a reggae beat followed by Mwini’s honeyed vocals. He is a measured songwriter who understands that a song speaks to the soul if poetry is merged with music.

He sings:

I'm just a simple man with a simple plan
Lady hold my hand and you will understand
What it means to live in a simple world
What it means what it means to love someone.

This is before Skoko steals the show with a spoken-word verse about finding true love in a single mother and navigating the calm and chaos of life together.

‘Everyday’ carries on with the theme of love. The Spanish flamenco guitar influence is apparent in the parts played by Matt Owegi, who is present on the entire album. He displays an ability to combine technicality and melody in a flawless yet subtle manner.

‘Wait for You’ brings things to a slow pace, relying on just a guitar and whistling. Here, the musicians get socially conscious and address the rise of gender-based violence in Kenya during the COVID-19 lockdown – taking on a much stronger political tone.

The band’s nonconformity of popular trends stems more from genuine experimental zeal than a cheap desire for attention. This is particularly evident in ‘Na Bado’ – a tribute to mothers who support the dreams of their children. Part of its appeal is the appearance of rapper Nyashinski whose emphasis on clear vocal delivery is laudable in the era of mumble rap.

The upbeat nature of the album’s fifth track, ‘My Jaber’, is irresistible. The musicians team up with rising Kisumu artist Brizy Annechild to praise the beauty of women from the region. Brizy Annechild’s name might be alien to mainstream audiences in the capital Nairobi, but the musician has amassed a big following in Kisumu.

Towards the end of the song, Skoko utilises mabanga – an act of shouting out an individual’s name during a song. It was popularised by Congolese musicians whose patrons paid to have their names immortalised on records.

H_art the Band also explores choral gospel in ‘Milele’ and although the song borrows from the worship genre, the group’s songwriting character is not lost.

The biggest differences between Simple Man and the band’s previous two albums – Shoekran and Made in the Streets – is its meticulous production and conceptual flow that allows listeners to consume it in its entirety.

Stream Simple Man here.

Artist: H_art the Band
Album: Simple Man
Year: 2021