We heart H_art (the band)

The three guys of H_art the band play on our heartstrings with the same unconditional emotion and intensity that Kenneth Muya (the band’s guitarist) plays on the strings of his guitar. With their words and their comforting rhythms, we see a side of music that hasn’t really been explored in Kenya.

Wachira Gatama, Kenneth Muya and Mordecai Mwini engulf us with spoken-word filled music, airing out their insecurities and everyday trials. We’re used to harmonies in Kenya, a lot of Kenyan acts are amazing at harmonising as if tuning voices that merge to one can be done in one’s sleep. What illuminates these passionate guys however is the fact that they have the audacity to connect this with spoken-word poetry. There’s something about listening to harmonies as a backdrop to wise words that gives people the warm filled, heat-generating shivers.

“Kama Paul Tergat aliniambia ‘keep walking’.” A metaphoric lyric from their song Mapenzi ni Kikohozi. They’re not just jotting down words that mean nothing, their lyrics perceptibly prove how musically intelligent they are. Rhyming words don’t seem to be placed for fun but because they have thought about what they are saying and for that, we have to applaud them.

The three lads met in 2012 and realised that their symbiotic love for music and spoken-word poetry had to be explored. With Mordecai and Wachira being Slam Africa Kings and Kenchez having the title of ‘self taught guitarist’ around his belt, the three were destined to be amazing in all forms.

“Imagine acoustics, smooth vocals, with a touch of poetry, spoken word, freestyle rap, drama, dance and fashion all blended into one thick pastry of art,” is how they describe their music on their Facebook page. And indeed the fusion of these elements is what you get from their hearty tunes that leave your mind blown.

An amazing characteristic of these guys is how far away from being cliché they are. They don’t exploit that fade-to-darkness, keep-your-eyes-slightly-closed-for-full-effect kind of spoken word. It doesn’t seem as if they’re doing what they do for attention but merely for the love of music and poetry. What else could you ask for in a band?

H_Art the band better not stop making music and poetry. They’re catching on to the Kenyan audience by being themselves and we truly hope they never change.

Check out their popular tune Uliza Kiatu.