23 March 2025 |
8:00 am
Two years after her huge break, Kenyan singer-songwriter Njerae has firmly positioned herself throughout the African R&B scene. With emotive melodies and soulful storytelling, she opens up concerning the inspiration behind her newest venture, 4 Letter Phrase, her inventive evolution, and the ambitions of collaborating throughout borders. Since her huge break two years in the past, Njerae…
Two years after her huge break, Kenyan singer-songwriter Njerae has firmly positioned herself throughout the African R&B scene. With emotive melodies and soulful storytelling, she opens up concerning the inspiration behind her newest venture, 4 Letter Phrase, her inventive evolution, and the ambitions of collaborating throughout borders.
Since her huge break two years in the past, Njerae has rapidly established herself within the African R&B scene, incomes reward for her emotive lyricism and distinct fashion.
The Kenyan singer-songwriter and music producer, born Njeri Njeri, creates music that largely displays a mixture of Soul, R&B, and Pop. Her hottest file thus far Aki Sioni, sung totally in her mom tongue Swahili, has been streamed practically three million instances on Spotify. One other notable launch, OTD, blends her love-themed groove with refined reggaeton rhythms. Her current EP, 4 Letter Phrase, additional cements her presence as a promising expertise in East Africa’s RnB/Soul scene and Kenya’s lover lady.
Raised in Nairobi, Njerae’s upbringing mirrored a mixture of influences, particularly early 2000s American R&B. Beginning primarily as a songwriter, she devoted herself to creating relatable and impactful lyrics. “Songwriting is like talking; for those who do it typically, it comes naturally to you,” she tells Guardian Music. Having collaborated with Nigerian music producer Wondamagik—and an unreleased tune with singer Nonso Amadi—she’s acquired her eyes set on Afrobeats. “I’d like to get on stage in Nigeria and all of the great locations around the globe,” she says. In January, the current signee at Common Music Group East Africa was listed amongst Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class of 2025, additional increasing her visibility throughout the continent.
On this week’s Guardian Music, Njerae discusses the inspirations behind her work, her progress as an artist, and plans to broaden her musical attain.
What impressed the title, 4 Letter Phrase?
I needed to do one thing for the Valentine’s season. For an enormous a part of 2024, I used to be recognized because the Kenyan lover lady, and it simply occurred to fall on the 14th of February, so the timing was good.The rationale it’s referred to as 4 Letter Phrase is that I didn’t need it to be cliché—simply one other love story or love-themed venture. I needed one thing that encompasses the totally different phases of a relationship. You begin by liking somebody, you then fall, after which there’s loss. All these feelings are a part of the entire love sequence, and so they simply occur to align with four-letter phrases. In order that’s why it’s referred to as that.
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Are your love tales hypothetical otherwise you’ve lived them?
It’s a little bit of each. It’s my expertise, however then additionally issues I’ve seen round and tales I’ve heard. I don’t suppose there’s something fictional about it. It’s simply that among the tales aren’t essentially mine.
Spinning off out of your final venture, Unintentional, how did you discover this venture?
Once I created Unintentional, I didn’t have a whole lot of information about what I used to be doing. Unintentional was simply speculated to be a group of songs I had been singing over time—songs my followers knew however that weren’t recorded or launched. However with 4 Letter Phrase, it’s very intentional. Unintentional was written as a companion for somebody going by way of a breakup, whereas 4 Letter Phrase is just like the section after you’ve healed and are moving into a brand new relationship or stage of life. It’s extra mature, extra grown. Unintentional feels prefer it got here straight out of teenagehood, whereas 4 Letter Phrase is the place your self higher. You already know what you need, and also you’re placing it on the market—whoever takes it, takes it.
So, are you pitching your tent with R&B until the top?
For certain, my music is closely influenced by R&B—rising up, that’s what I consumed probably the most. And as a songwriter, my sound naturally falls into the singer-songwriter house, a type of indie-type music. However I’m exploring and experimenting with totally different sounds as a result of I don’t essentially wish to stay simply an R&B artist. I wish to see how Njeri can match into Afrobeats or perhaps a pop tune.
Who did you hearken to rising up?
Rising up, I principally listened to R&B music—Westlife and a whole lot of the older-generation sounds as a result of I used to be principally consuming music by way of my dad and mom. There was all the time a whole lot of R&B taking part in. Then, as I turned extra conscious of my very own tastes, I moved on to artists like Chris Brown and Rihanna, since I didn’t really feel like there was something in my nation that I may connect myself to. Then got here the period of Sauti Sol, and instantly, everybody was wanting as much as them as a result of they have been doing what so many individuals needed to do. Sauti Sol had an enormous affect on me as a musician. I’ve even had the prospect to work together with them, and so they’ve formed my music. I additionally used to hearken to a feminine Kenyan artist referred to as Fi, and for a very long time, I seemed as much as her to know how R&B music labored in Kenya. Past that, I listened to a whole lot of Tori Kelly, in addition to gospel artists like Tasha Cobbs and Hillsong. I grew up within the church, in order that sort of music was additionally a giant a part of my life.
My music has all the time been influenced by these slower, extra soulful sounds. Throughout highschool, I began studying about songwriting. That’s once I acquired extra curious and began exploring totally different genres simply to know how songwriting works throughout totally different kinds.
Ever labored with a Nigerian musician?
I labored nearly with a producer referred to as Wondamagik. I launched two songs, final yr, Aki Sioni Remix, and a tune referred to as Nyumbani. He labored on them.
Did the combination of cultures impression the file in any respect?
Yeah, it was a very satisfying expertise for me, to be sincere. As a result of I really feel like right here in Kenya, we’ve got a type of lazy means of making. We rely rather a lot on know-how, so we don’t need to put in an excessive amount of work. So long as we’ve got the lyrics, every part else will fall into place. However with Magik, he took me by way of the method of layering, like stacking totally different vocals in varied areas to make the sound richer and extra dynamic. That entire session with him opened my eyes and altered how I take into consideration recording. So transferring ahead, I’m enthusiastic about how I strategy vocals in my music.
What’s your typical inventive course of?
Effectively, I write on daily basis as a result of I realised songwriting is like talking. In the event you do it typically, it turns into second nature to you. So I don’t suppose I’ve a inventive course of, as a result of, from that follow of simply writing, I’m capable of put myself in that house in a short time. I can write wherever in any scenario. I don’t have a ritual or something like that. So, I’m a really boring author.
How has the help been in Kenya, with serving to extra girls get into the music scene?
Sadly, the feminine help system within the leisure trade right here in Kenya is kind of missing. You hardly ever see feminine musicians performing collectively or sharing the stage. That’s one thing I needed to vary from the very starting, even once I was nonetheless an unknown artist. I began a programme referred to as Sikiza, the place I collaborated with younger folks, particularly college college students or current graduates, who knew what they needed to do however didn’t know the place to start out. The concept was to supply shadowing alternatives.
So, for instance, for those who’re an aspiring architect, you’d get paired with a practising architect and shadow them for a few month to see if the truth of the job matches your expectations. I did this with a whole lot of younger creatives, and it was such a rewarding expertise. Past that, I’m additionally very intentional about how I current myself. I don’t need something to remove from the music. So even in my performances, I avoid the standard stereotypes of feminine artists, just like the expectation to depend on hypersexualized performances.As a substitute, I favor working with younger girls who need their expertise and craft to shine past simply their appears to be like.
I additionally actively take functions from younger ladies who wish to be concerned in Njéri’s model in any means, and I’m all the time open to serving to nonetheless I can. I’ve been championing this feminine motion for a very long time, and I’m always searching for like-minded artists who share this imaginative and prescient. I’m hopeful that by the top of 2025, we’ll have a powerful, united motion of feminine musicians in Kenya.
What are your favorite pastimes once you’re not making music?
I’ve about 9 canines, so I like spending time with my canines. I additionally get pleasure from swimming.
Any Nigerian collaboration you’re wanting ahead to?
Effectively, I’d like to collaborate with Tems. I’m obsessed along with her. I’d like to collaborate with Ami Faku as nicely. She’s dope. I believe my thoughts proper now could be simply centered on these two folks, and as soon as I get there, I’ll know the place to maneuver.
What’s your favorite a part of your artistry?
Efficiency.
What’s your favorite efficiency reminiscence?
I put alone present final yr in August, and I didn’t suppose it was going to prove as wonderful because it did. It was offered out, and everybody there was able to sing my music. That was the primary time I’ve ever finished that. At that time, I used to be second-guessing myself and the type of music I do. I really like being on stage and listening to the followers sing with me, and I believe that’s often probably the most motivating factor ever.
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Any standout expertise with a fan?
I’ve been on stage singing earlier than, and somebody was sobbing, crying like she couldn’t even stand.
What subsequent from you this yr?
There are much more releases deliberate. I ought to be releasing one thing in April. There are additionally a whole lot of collaborations arising. By the best way, there’s a collaboration with Nonso Amadi.
Lastly, what’s the imaginative and prescient in your profession?
I’d like to, for now, carry out on a global stage. That’s the place my head is. I’ve been performing right here in Nairobi without end. I’d like to get on stage in Nigeria, South Africa, and totally different locations on the earth. That’s my aim for this yr: to get onto some phases outdoors Kenya.
