Whenever I think of Zimbabwean vocalists, it is often that Vuyo Brown comes to mind. The singer/songwriter and contemporary musician is not only artful but remarkably versatile. Refusing to be boxed in by any particular sound, she explores the essence of God through whatever genre calls to her.
Releasing her debut single “NdiJesu” in 2016, Vuyo Brown has had the mission of introducing her listeners to a reality outside their own and leaving them revived and wholesome. The singer’s musical journey can be traced all the way back to her childhood. By the time she was 9, she had delved into experimenting with various instruments, and that musical curiosity would see her join the church music team at 14.
Since then Vuyo’s talent has seen her nominated for the Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA), the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA), and most recently the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMAs). While some of her work has been featured on regional radio stations and on channels like MTV Base, Trace and One Gospel.
While already having had her breakout moment, Piece EP comes at a time when the singer has once again reignited national interest. The NAMA nomination, and Vuyo’s highly acclaimed single from last year “Vuyani” being the catalysts for this attention.
Although only 4 tracks in length, Piece EP strikes the right chord and feels just right as an introduction to Vuyo’s music for new fans, and a gift to those who’ve been around supporting her. The project feels deeply personal, yet that is often a quality of Vuyo’s music.
[Piece EP is] a piece of my rhythm and melody. A piece of my mind. A piece of my interpretation of heavenly sounds; my thoughts on what the world needs, and my prayer.
The EP starts off with A New Song (Intro), a gentle and soulful expression of music, that climaxes in a performance of poetry. There’s a certain vulnerability, or a feeling of Vuyo Brown bearing all, and this is reflected in Vuyo’s brief poem. The singer goes, “My name is Vuyo Brown and this is my heart, well my soul. I hope it does to you what it does to me when I get it, because well I’m writing for you.”
The intro sets the setting and in the three songs that come afterwards the sounds of Afro Indie, Alternative, and Jazz are brought together in harmony. Vuyo Brown’s vocals are the glue that binds everything together and they shine over the smooth production.
Iza is dominated by sounds of the guitar, with a soft drum that comes intermittently, while Morebo has an easy harmony that serenades the ear and Ndikuxolele raises the tempo for a beautiful ending to an equally alluring project. It feels almost wrong that it stops there. Piece leaves you yearning for a bit more of Vuyo. It is a music project that transcends both religion and language.
The music certainly lives up to it’s description. As Vuyo calls it a piece of her, you can’t help but feel like a witness to an undressing of thoughts and emotions. In exchange for that piece of her Vuyo gives us, she demands that we feel. A fair price in my eyes, and one that makes you feel connected to what you listen to.
Piece EP is a brilliant body of work, from a gifted musician. It is rhythm and storytelling, wrapped in melody. Worthy of more than just one listen.
