Today, Nairobi-born, Adelaide-based singer, rapper and producer, Elsy Wameyo announces her debut studio album ‘Saint Sinner’ will be released on Friday 26 July via AWAL/Impressed Recordings. To celebrate, Elsy shares her newest single, UMVA – out today.
Following the release of singles Sinner and Piny Lara earlier this year, (which gained support from triple j, Fashion Journal, NME, Paper Mag, DIY Mag, COLORS, NTS Radio & more), Elsy prepares to unveil her biggest creative touchstone to date, ‘Saint Sinner’. A potent collection of music that journeys themes of identity and spirituality, ‘Saint Sinner’ documents a poignant chapter of Elsy’s personal and artistic evolution. Through the turmoil and tumult of young adulthood, navigating the modern world as a Black woman has been a process not without its constant struggles – struggles to find a sense of purpose and belonging, and of being caught between two cultures – that of Kenya and Australia. An impassioned portrait of Elsy Wameyo, ‘Saint Sinner’ is replete with sounds that are urgent, poignant and never waver in their strength of voice – to showcase Elsy’s levelled-up sense of determinism and resilience on record.
Elsy returned home to Kenya to create ‘Saint Sinner’– a decision made to inform her new work, but also to rediscover the Elsy who was behind the creative ambition that first set her on this path to greatness. Building a team of producers, fellow songwriters and close connections, including Wuod Omollo, Polycarp and Ywaya Tajiri, Elsy surrounded herself with personalities and energy that encouraged growth and rejuvenation of one’s spirit. ‘Saint Sinner’ is the culmination of those sessions spent writing and recording together in Kenya’s Naivasha region.
Elsy says on ‘Saint Sinner’: “I know I had always yearned to say these certain things; I never found the perfect way to say it. Especially when you’re a young black girl, no one is encouraging you to speak your mind. I know for a fact that these are words that I’ve definitely sat with for a long time.”
Throughout today’s new single UMVA, Elsy is on incendiary form, delivering impactful and charismatic lyrics over an icy and low-end heavy beat. Created at the Kenyan writing camp with producer Wuod Omollo, Elsy explains: “UMVA was a part where I could flex, but still speak my truth. I remember immediately feeling like this was what sounded more like NILOTIC, in terms of sound and sonics; it was where I comfortably sat, where I was during the production of that record. It was coming from a place where, internally, I was feeling this album. Internally, I knew I was having this battle between saint and sinner, I just didn’t understand it. I didn’t know what it was. I wrote this verse with Motez before that London trip… I had to say certain things and this was one of those verses, where it was my body – whether I liked it or not – saying, “We have to get this out, because it’s the only way we’re going to heal.
‘Umva’ means “listen”. My photographer at the time, at the camp, he’s from Burundi. When Wuod had done the track, we were jumping around and listening to it and he said the word “umva”. I thought it was really cool, and he told me it means “listen”. I ran with that so hard. It was perfect. It was exactly the energy I wanted: when I speak, you’d better sit down and listen. When I enter a room, you stand up and you must salute. Respect.”
UMVA follows an incredible 2023 and start to 2024 for Elsy Wameyo, who graced stages across Australia including her own headline dates with a full live band, in support of Genesis Owusu on his national album tour, and internationally throughout Kenya, before closing the year to festival crowds at Falls Festival and Lost Paradise. Most recently, Elsy has wowed crowds in Sydney, alongside festivals Golden Plains and Panama, and in support of ARIA-Award winning artist, Sampa The Great. The shows celebrate Elsy’s previous single Sinner, a record that received playlist rotation from triple j, community radio, Rage and tastemaking support from the likes of ACCLAIM, Pilerats and more. Previously, Elsy performed her debut run of international shows, supporting Australian hip hop icons Hilltop Hoods throughout Europe & Australian arenas.
As an emergent force to be reckoned with in recent years, Elsy Wameyo has been developing her craft against a shifting social and cultural landscape – changes that have seen Elsy elevate and evolve as a woman, songwriter and artist. Capturing the attention of the industry with early releases that showcased a natural talent for lyricism and performance, Elsy’s music and artistry is reinforced by pride in her faith and culture; and early cosigns from international artists such as Masego and Lady Leshurr.
Following the release of her 2022 debut EP, ‘NILOTIC’, a powerful, self-produced six-track fusion of hip hop, alt-R&B and soul-infused music that represented a kaleidoscope of emotions: pride, fury, sadness, understanding, and acceptance, Elsy has accepted multiple accolades. These include a deserved six wins at the South Australia Music Awards for Best Studio Engineer/Producer, Best Music Video, Best Song, Best Solo Artist & Best Release, and later being crowned triple j Unearthed’s Artist of the Year. Elsy has been featured on multiple ‘Ones to Watch’ lists, including Red Bull and triple j Unearthed.
Witness a showcase of Elsy Wameyo’s elevated sense of determinism and resilience on record, via UMVA today and ahead of her debut studio album, ‘Saint Sinner’ arriving in July.
UMVA IS OUT NOW – BUY / STREAM HERE
‘SAINT SINNER’ IS OUT JULY 26 2024 – PRE-ORDER HERE
With thanks to Thinking Loud
