“Bend It” is the first single from TANGAZA Magazine’s upcoming compilation album, Full Full Condition Vol. 3. It is an upbeat, sexy duet between Kenyan Alt-R&B artist Maya Amolo and rising Ugandan pop artist, Joshua Baraka. The duo trade sultry and playful verses about dance floor infatuation over an infectiously groovy beat by fast-rising Ugandan producer, La Soülchyld aka MAUIMØON, a singer-songwriter transforming the new sound of the underground R&B scene. With origins rooted in East African countries Uganda & Rwanda, it’s no surprise that his sound transcends borders as well as norms with hints of Afrobeats, Funk, and 2000s RnB.
“It’s a song about the chemistry you have with a hot stranger at the club,” Maya says. “The harmonies are everything.”
Maya Amolo is a Kenyan singer-songwriter whose music explores love’s complex spectrum through the lens of alternative R&B. She cut her teeth on SoundCloud, collaborating with internet producers to create sad boi tunes including “U Wanna” and “Where Tornados Flew”. Maya’s sugary vocals and soft harmonies quickly amassed her a dedicated listenership and garnered the attention of local producers and musicians. She released her debut project, Leave Me At The Pregame, which takes the listener through a melodious journey of self-acceptance and healing in mid-2020. Her sound has evolved since leaving the pregame as she enters into a new era of her artistry: “I used to think I make the best music when I’m sad and angry but in the past year I realized that I make the best music when I’m honest, and honest can be any feeling”.
Maya has established herself as one to watch having been covered by tastemaker platforms including NPR, The Native Mag, Okay Africa, Harmattan Rain and TANGAZA Magazine as well as having been selected as Spotify Africa’s inaugural Fresh Finds artist in May, 2022.
Joshua Baraka is a Ugandan music artist whose unique blend of musical genres has set him apart in the new generation of artists in Uganda. His rich musical background exposed him to different forms and variations of rhythm and melody. He writes, sings, produces music, plays piano and guitar which he picked up at an early stage. Baraka refuses to be associated with a particular genre and continues to assert that his music style depends on what he wants to say at that moment.
Full Full Condition is an annual series of compilation albums presented by TANGAZA Magazine. Each year, we select a collection of artists and producers across East Africa and the diaspora to produce a 10 track album of original music. The goal is to display the breadth and diversity of the region’s emerging talent and inspire collaboration within the scene. The third volume is set for release later this year.
