Shekhinah’s album Rose Gold, released in 2017, is nothing short of an album with numerous bangers. It is a well-made debut album and was certified platinum by RiSA on 31 August 2018. Shekhinah is arguably one of the hottest South African artists. Why should anyone outside of South Africa care? Because she can sing and has a unique voice with a nice subtle raspiness to it. Also, she has that chill R&B hip-hop feel to her music, somewhat similar to the American and British artists gaining recognition right now. Also, she sings in English so no need to worry about language barriers.
The opening “Intro�? features African drums and jungle-like footsteps which perfectly segways into “Into the Jungle,�? which has heavy bass and an upbeat feel. The lyrics “Like a few trees/ And a light breeze/ With some sightseeing/ And I’m yours, I’m yours yeah/ I like it, yeah�? describe a simple but beautiful love. Never thought romance could be tied to the jungle so poetically.
No need to skip the next song “The Sound�? which is a great wholesome song everyone can listen to. It features Asali who gives the song that extra push with some Zulu adlibs in the background of the chorus and towards the end of the song. Asali’s contribution sounds great especially to people that appreciate hearing another language. “The Sound�? manages to be upbeat while being chill at the same time.
Instead of starting each paragraph with “no need to skip the next song,�? I’ll just recommend each song as worthy of at least one listen. “Overdose�? has that late 2000s sound that Ne-yo and them had. I might be making this up, but I feel like Ne-yo and even Keri Hilson had some songs with this instrumentation.
“Different�? (feat. Mariechan) is one of the singles off the album which put me on to the talent that is Shekhinah. It’s an anthem for sure and encourages people to embrace their differences without being cheesy. Plus it has that heavy trap base that millennials need. The opening lines are a mantra I tell myself to face the daily challenges “Different in my own way/Rose Gold, baby, In my own shade, baby yeah/ Living in a new age/ Guess I’m just a limited edition/ Not too many edits like me.�?
Following a series of songs no one should skip, “Please Mr,�? one of the singles, continues with the lounge type of vibes people can chill to. It’s a song appropriate for most occasions just like many of the songs on the album.
The same fire way Shekhinah opens up the album is the way she closes it. “Suited,�? arguably her most popular song, has a tropical house and R&B feel. The song expresses lovers who are suited for each other, without being cliche. A final note on Rose Gold is that most of the instrumentation for the songs are mastered well. You’re welcome in advance for the introduction to Shekhinah.
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