I consider myself a music nerd. I enjoy listening to different types of music. However, that means I come across a lot of music I don’t particularly enjoy. That isn’t meant to be a slight to South African artists, but if you listen to a lot of music, especially new music, you are bound to hear more songs you don’t enjoy in comparison to those you do. Every now and again, you come across an artist who makes it worth it. I can’t properly articulate the feeling I get when I discover a new artist who makes music I enjoy. Suddenly, all of the hours listening to the music I don’t enjoy no longer matter. That is the case with Chipego. She is an unbelievable talent who sings with a passion I rarely come across. I was impressed by her latest offering, Don’t Forget to Remember. Without further ado, this is the review for Chipego’s Don’t Forget to Remember.
The sound
The EP opens with the song ‘LALALA’, and it sets the tone for the EP. The single, as she describes, is an African contemporary execution of R&B. Sonically, the song is full of emotion and soul. The tempo of the production is deliberately slow, allowing Chipego the space to rap or sing as she pleases. That can be said for the majority of the EP. She never feels rushed by the production. It almost feels like she is leading the tempo of the production instead of the other way around. Now, Chipego makes it look easy, but relatively downtempo production with no bells and whistles is challenging for any artist to approach and execute because there is a real danger in the song feeling “empty” or incomplete. Chipego’s penmanship and vocal delivery are uncanny, with her knowing exactly when and where to turn it on. On the song ‘SUNSET SPINNING’, she enters a melody that is closer to rapping to create some contrast between her chorus and verse atop the “open” production.
Subject matter
From a subject matter point of view, it was challenging to underpin the narratives that she was exploring. Not because she is a bad writer, but it has more to do with the fact that she is an incredible songwriter. For all of the spins I gave the EP, it was a challenge to resist being captured by her vocals. I thought of giving it another spin, where I attempt to listen more intently; however, I want to describe what the experience would be like for the typical listener. What I can say is that the music feels spiritual. I felt more connected to myself when I listened to the EP. I particularly felt these emotions when listening to the song ‘GUIDED’.
X factor
Identifying an artist’s X factor is my favourite part about writing these reviews because, more than anything, this will determine if the artist is for you or not. For Chipego, she is the X factor. She is a fully rounded artist who understands the sound she wants to share through the music. Her African approach to music is distinct and makes her stand out from the sea of talented R&B artists in the country. Her penmanship is impeccable, with her knowing when and where to switch between rapping and singing. Overall, Chipego is rooted in herself, and that comes across in her music.
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