… Her EP debuts number one on charts for a week straight
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – From the upbeat vibe on ‘Hood brat’ to the heartbreak tunes in ‘, Conscious’, every song on Sarnilo’s extended playlist (EP) delivers in the right way.
The first song on this EP is Chifunilo, which is also the title of the EP. However, it is not exactly a song. It is a sound bite of poetry and the future.
According to a user from Norway, the name Chifunilo is of Bantu origin and means Will; Will of God or Desire.
The EP starts with a heartwarming intro from the singer’s grandmother where she says “Sarnilo you must sing as if no one is watching,”from there, a hearty guitar string can be heard in the background while the singer hums.
This was an interesting thing to note as it introduces the idea of ‘Chifunilo’ and the vulnerability her grandmother’s support brings to her.
As usual, the lyricism of the seven tracks is off the charts, but also a dedicated listener of Sarnilo will want to focus on the angelic vocals that she gives.
In Hood Brat, track number five, At around 2:33 in the song, Sarnilo goes into a beautiful riff and does it with ease.
Another noteworthy part of her range as an artist starts at 3:40. In the song Sindakumva, the mix of instruments and vocals is what one might call a gift from God.
For any music fanatic would agree , it is one of the best moments in Hip Hop fused R&B music.
The one thing that stands out with Sarnilo’s EP is the play of words, her diversity. One would even dare compare her to Lauryn Hill and the Miseducation album.
Singing and rapping are always play-cousins, yet identifying both as ‘hip-hop’ was something many struggled with,perhaps listeners will appreciate the articulate attempt by Sarnilo to fuse both and deliver an impeccable EP.
Her work of art is the street hustler image of rap in the ’80s and ’90s mixed with the super-smooth romanticism of R&B in the ’90s and a Summer Walker era that made it so difficult to believe the two could fit together under one umbrella. Sarnilo did that.
In various interviews the singer has not shied away from expressing that she poured her feelings into this artwork. Chifunilo tackles love lost and love found, distrust, Culture, and self-actualization in this chart topping EP
At 20-something years old, Sarnilo is the target age of today’s millennials trying to ‘figure it all out’. And what better way to do it? She did it with an accurate sound and lyrics in the said EP.
The seven track EP which features artists like Zulu boy, Qibho and Sibu Manzini among others has become a standard for all impactful EPs that will follow it.
It arrived while hip-hop and R&B is undergoing a reinvention as a commercially viable genre, delivering an earthquake of an EP whose tremors are still being felt today, and will change the scene in Eswatini.
The Eswatini-based singer, songwriter, rapper and poet, Sarnilo, is best known for her captivating lyrics, versatility and eclectic music.
Her smooth and soul-filled raps, soothingly toned voice as well as her new school Afro-centric style are a few of the energies she exudes in studio and on stage.
She describes her music as soul capturing, fun, experimental and emotive.
Sarnilo, being a bi-cultural artist, uses her diverse background to influence her songwriting and singing style. Born of a Malawian mother and Swati father she uniquely incorporates both siSwati and Chichewa in her music.
As an emerging African artist determined to break into Africa’s rising music scene, Sarnilo draws her inspiration from a plethora of talented black women such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, Sampa The Great, Msaki and Ami Faku.
Sarnilo has worked with Austrian producer Aramboa, award-winning South African rapper/poet Zuluboy and has performed on stages such as the acclaimed MTN Bushfire Festival.
This publication once reported that the Eswatini singer, songwriter, rapper and poet released her debut single ‘Okondana’ featuring Sibu Manzini, a soulful and catchy Afro-pop song that reflects on the complexities of young love.
The single, which was produced by Sibu Manzini, has been well-received by fans and critics alike and has soared into the top half of the Eswatini Top 20 charts within two weeks of its release. It has also been featured on various online platforms such as Music In Africa and Texx and the City.
