UP Music: Femi One Tells Her Evolution Story With New Single, ‘Wanjiku Kimani’
“This song came about around the time I was trying to find myself and identify my sound. I needed time to reinvent myself and now I am back,” says Femi One. When we listened to the track, we found that even with its energetic sound, Kaka Sungura’s influence is heavily felt throughout this track; Femi is a member of the Kaka Empire Management and appeared on Sungura’s ‘Ligi Soo’ remix.
Femi takes us on a poetic voyage of her music journey almost like the way her mentor Kaka Sungura does. Kaka is known for witty social commentary and amazing punch lines delivered in sheng, and just in the style of an aspiring protégé, Femi One goes ahead and delivers the same.
Femi One is known for her tongue-in-cheek metaphors, clever wordplay and hard hitting punch lines in her music. “Wanjiku Kimani” shows a different side to Femi One that many have yet to see. It is a deeply personal and emotional story that takes the listener on a journey deep into the life and experiences of the artist.
Winning her audience over with the storytelling concept, the video in part is also amazing. “I have grown up and my music has grown with me,” says Femi One. The song showcases her growth both musically and emotionally.
Femi One began rapping when she was 15 years old. She used to perform at WAPI (Words and Pictures) through the mentorship of Zakah (Wenyeji). It was at one of these events where King Kaka spotted her and asked her to feature on Ligi Soo remix and in the process signed her to Kaka Empire. She is best known for her trademark line, “Me ndio Femi One among the Feminine.”
The Femi one we saw starting out at Ligi Soo Remix is different from the one we see in Wanjiku Kimani, and that is what it means to be dynamic and grow in this business. Any artist who does not undergo a growth is doomed!
The song was produced by Jack on the Beat and the video directed by Johnson Kyalo (Empire Films).
Here is the video. What do you think? Do you love the evolution?
Catch Femi One at Club Tribeka for Mseto East Africa’s #WakilishaEastAfrica nights, where she will be launching this video officially.
