I first fell in love with neo-soul music sometime in June or July 2001 when the music video for Jill Scott’s “A Long Walk” was playing heavily on MCM. MCM was the go-to music channel back then for us teenagers trying to look hip in our baggy jeans and throwback jerseys. All of these accessorised with a bandana and Sisqo’s dragon chain.
There was something about “A long walk.” One of those things that are palpable but that you cannot really explain. Perhaps it was the simplicity, perhaps it was the novelty and simplicity of the music video, perhaps it was that bass guitar that thumped heavily on the melody, perhaps it was Jill Scott’s voice or just the huge crush I had on her. I don’t know. But every time that song came on, I would turn up the volume and drift along to the music.
That song introduced me to what is today my favourite genre of music (neo-soul) and my computer is full of music from artistes who make music at the intersection of soul, neo-soul and jazz; D’Angelo, Maxwell, Marcus Miller, Ledisi, Bill Withers, Marsha Ambrosius, Raphael Saadiq, Glenn Lewis, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Angie Stone, Erykah Baduh (of course), India Arie, Andra Day, Charles Bradley, Lyfe Jennings, Anthony David… I could go on, but for those who know, I am sure you catch my drift.
For a long time, I’ve always felt bad that neo-soul is a genre that is not really explored by mainstream Cameroonian artistes. The closest we have come to someone with mainstream appeal whose style comes close to (but is not) neo-soul is Gasha.
I know of the likes Danielle Eog Makedah, Olhga NK, Joyce Babatunde, and Debra Debs who have flirted with the genre but are popular only amongst aficionados of that brand of music. Personally, I believe that we need more soul and neo-soul artistes that can bring the genre to mainstream attention.
That is why I was very pleased when I got to discover AMATULA. She has released just one song and apart from being a pure listening delight it is also a pure neo-soul song; lock, stock and barrel.
There is that unmistakable tempo, that veiled-yet-present rhythm, that ever-present bass guitar sound that holds the root of soul music together, that authenticity in the live instruments, that poetic simplicity and depth in the lyrics and finally the voice; the cocktail of everything that makes neo-soul music.
I tried to situate her voice. I have listened to the song over and over and over just so I can tell you that she sounds like this or that person so you can have a reference from which you can go from, mais hélas, I cannot find one. She is just singular. She reminds me of no one except Amatula.
“Wake up, my love” by Amatula is THE breath of fresh air you need to start your day and the nightcap you need before you drift off to sleep. At 22 years old, the young lady from the Bamoun Kingdom who says she has loved music for as long as she remembers starts off what I hope is a career in music with a stellar song.
And what can I say about her writing? You can immediately tell she is someone who writes poems. The lyrics to the song which are simple yet profound and is definitely a long walk from the “ma cherie coco I will buy you Bugatti” we hear in just about every afropop song.
Amatula walks a different way, and “Wake up, my love” is announcing just that. I personally cannot wait for her next release and if indeed she defines herself as a soul/neo-soul artiste, then I hope she can really bring the genre to the mainstream Cameroonian public.
Below is the link to “Wake Up, My Love.” Do yourself a favour and give it a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_IJBDT8KOw
- Wandji Wilfred.
P.S. we have been talking politics these past weeks. I thought we should have something light. And if the song touches your soul, please hit the share button.