By Lize Kubersky
I recently heard the sounds of Jossy Joss’ album ‘Okamati Jossy.’
The singer has stepped into his surroundings to produce some of the sounds on his latest album.
He states, with the song entitled ‘Katutura,’ a collaboration with Matonga family, which is a mixture of Mbaqanga and Makhaisa, he wants to talk about the township as, ‘a place of fun loving people who, despite hardships still seem to enjoy life to the fullest.”
“Be it in Wambo location, Donkerhoek, Wanaheda, German, Dolam, Herero location, Soweto, Okuryangava, Greenwell and all the different extensions of Katutura – the parties never seem to cease.”
This proves to settle in the current race run by the modern ‘Namibian’ artists.
It is material interchangeable from the radio, onto the dance floor. As Jossy Joss shifts languidly through themes of good times and better times in Namibia.
In my opinion his music falls into the categories of the trends in upbeat, danceable grooves that talk about common concerns and shared feelings. Ranging from songs of society, to songs of a ‘lonely man’ as his track, ‘Lonely man,’ exhibits.
Diversity on an album is essential, but one has to strive to never loose an all round package that reflects one sound. Jossy Joss and Tuhafeni Productions focused on a lateral line of local, yet urban beats, mixed with indigenous lyrics, that interconnects all the songs.
Like so many Namibian artists, Jossy Joss strives to exhibit his personal flavour, but his music is genre free. It does not really reflect a certain culture, and or a definite theme, although he talks about life in general.
With the main language being Wambo, but also containing English tracks, this artist seemingly aims to broaden his horizons and attract new audiences, in terms of language.
The album contains 13 tracks of modern music.
It will hit the stores on June 29 and the singer will also perform on June 30 at Amos Shiyuka’s testimonial match to be held at the Independence Stadium.