June Gachui And Maurice Kirya To Slay At Koroga Festival.

It is said that music is emotion searching for expression, and no two artistes encapsulate this better than June Gachui and Maurice Kirya. I will admit that I am not that familiar with Manu Dibango’s music, save for the songs that have been covered by other artistes. Call it a generational flaw if you will, honesty after all is the best policy no?

How does one describe June Gachui? A multi-faceted, consummate entertainer, she oozes pure awesomeness whenever she hits the stage. June sings, acts, emcees effortlessly, and slays when it comes to intellectual property. How pray tell does one breathe into words this larger than life personality?

The first time I got the privilege of watching June performing, she was requested by Mumala to come on stage and say hi to the audience. She instead decided to sing, because authentic expression is the core of June’s being. First offering was Bibanke by Asa and I kid you not the room was pungent with expectation. My heart skipped a bit as a holy stillness enveloped the air around us. It’s the way she stood, as if preparing to manifest the sublime calls for a sudden transformation.

First few notes and the entire audience were transfixed. I watched in awe as Ms June dissected herself and bled dry on that podium. By the time she was done and transitioning into En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go, I was enthralled by her rasp, vocal command and expansive range.She was belting G5’s in full voice, unrestrained, unfettered, no mean feat. There and then I knew my heart was taken.

She was a stranger then, but I am now privileged to consider her a friend. Nonetheless, my hairs rise on end whenever she sings. Twenty years under her belt, June is now ready to showcase songs penned with her own DNA. A long time coming, avid fans have been waiting with bated breath for her debut album to drop. Have you not had the pleasure of listening to some of these songs? Then Koroga Festival is definitely your opportunity to.

You will be blown away; her music transcends genres and has coalesced into soul-serenity, like rain drops intertwine to form a river that leads to your ocean (Definitely thinking about Emotions by Destiny’s Child).

Enough with waxing lyrical about June, I am also stoked that Maurice Kirya is back in town this time singing songs reeking of soul and sensuality. I had the pleasure of interacting with Maurice Kirya, back when I was part of Eric Wainaina’s camp during Maisha Superstar.

Maurice would saunter in like he owned the ground he walked on. I find such people perplexing, the ones that are unrepentant about being in the space they have been invited to. Maurice is unapologetic about music, his voice wafts like a smoke signal and draws you into his being.

Affable and unguarded, he sings like he talks; melodies pour out of him like honey from the honeycomb.

It is no secret that I love live performances. I love to watch artistes contort themselves with pleasure as they pull notes from their spirit. I love to watch emotion take over a singer visage, because it makes me envisage what was going through them as they reached into higher planes and tapped into melodies lesser mortals are oblivious to.

I am reminded of rainmakers, invoking the elements until clouds collide and a downpour ensues. And yes, it will rain on Sunday, but it will not be rain that will soak our spirits but epic melodies. Go on, purchase our tickets and come discover Edward Parseen and Manu Dibango with me. It’s an odyssey worth taking, your future self will thank you for saying yes.