Rapper Elsy Wameyo’s debut album ‘Saint Sinner’ explores her dual identity as a Kenyan-Australian woman while also examining the conflicts between the saint and sinner within her. The album’s emphasis on faith is not surprising considering the rapper’s cultural background and her previous work, including EP ‘Nilotic’, which featured songs about her Kenyan heritage. On ‘Saint Sinner’, Wameyo takes things further by taking a trip to Naivasha and collaborating with local producers, songwriters, and other creatives.
The album features various musical styles, from R&B to Afrobeat, and even spoken word, showcasing Wameyo’s range and versatility. The album opens with ‘Repercussions’, which starts off with sensitive piano and vocals before quickly transitioning to a harder beat and rap. ‘Selah’ features extended spoken word, while ‘Piny Lara’ has R&B undertones, and ‘Conquer’ has funky guitar and hand drums. The album closes with ‘Thank You’, which explicitly references gospel music and celebrates faith.
Throughout the album, Wameyo is honest and candid about her experiences, trauma, depression, and anxiety. On ‘Quagmire’, she adopts a breathless and impassioned flow over urgent strings, while on ‘Sinner’, she exposes her inner demons with a staccato attack that conveys the sense of building toward a fever pitch. These intense moments are balanced by introspective ballads like ‘UMVA’ and ‘Slowly Slipping’, showcasing Wameyo’s talent for vulnerability and emotional depth.
The penultimate track, ‘Saint’, closes with a rising choir and a declaration that “this is not the end of my story.” It’s a fitting end to an album that reflects on the past, present, and future, examining the conflicts and contradictions within Wameyo herself and the complex cultural identity she embodies. ‘Saint Sinner’ is a bold and impressive debut that marks Wameyo as a rising talent to watch
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