Album Review: SOULWAVE 2153 by MOONGA K.
Zambian-born and Johannesburg-based, MOONGA K. tells whoever is listening to stand up and keep their head up, and on SOULWAVE 2153, he writes the flaunting as recovery.
At six years old, MOONGA K. started singing with a garage band that rehearsed at home every day. Frank Ocean’s “American Wedding” sparked his writing at 14. Born in Zambia, he grew up in Gaborone and has been based in Johannesburg for a decade; an activist can be found alongside credits as a songwriter and vocalist. “I’d like to be a voice for people who are too scared to speak out,” he told Music in Africa, “but more so amplify their voices.” SOULWAVE 2153 is just directives.
MOONGA sings on “BIG EGO,” “I’ve gotten through so much/Oh, I don’t wanna hurt no more/So I step in this power,” with self-ego issues manifesting later in a verse about dealing with a bout of anger. The next verse deals with whoever is reading with a nickname and a word of caution: “Class is in session, teachers professing, you better listen up/Buttercup, this world will eat you whole/If you don’t stand up for yourself, those vultures will control you.” The tone of this release is one of calm resolve.
The pickup line on “FLY” offers advice as to how she should deal with herself. “STRUT” presents the resolve to own your difficulties: “Just stand up, embrace the hell that you’re in ‘cause it will be worth it in the end.” His confidence helps him deal with fear before dealing with women. “Won’t let the fear turn me into a monster/I know I’ve grown to be dramatic/It’s just the way that I was programmed,” he begins “TIME TRAVELLING LOVER” before the hook seeks solace in the static signals it finds. He wants to drink wine under low light conditions on the Reggae-infused “HERE IT GOES” and continues, “I’m gonna kiss you, I’m gonna love you, I’m gonna fuck you slow.” But then he pulls back: “I know nobody’s guiding you right/But baby, I promise I will give you light.” I Am Roze’s feature on the second verse paints a picture of a heaven made just for two people enjoying wine slowly. The intergalactic sex marathon “STAR SURFING” finds him declaring himself a sex-siren, only to conclude with “Resistance was never our fear, our why/We’re electric, break the circuit, connect this, we can fly.”
“TO THE SUN” holds her close until the morning sun and sings about finding the sun in her eyes, with the chorus asking if she’d fly to the sun with him. Anybody could have written those lines. The women featured in these songs have already been won over. He offers her strength of character in the third verse of “SATISFIED” (”I know, I know this feels wrong/I hope that with me you can be strong”), building on previous assurances of creating for her “a castle made of cosmic cheer” and a place to “release all your weirdo little germs.” On “LET’S GET LOUD!,” his draw is hypnotic with a filmic quality to the song; he’s off into the clouds.
With this section of “BIRTHRIGHT,” the world is on fire. Now, they have to fight for their liberty. The solidarity chant builds on this section: “From the river to the sea, Palestine is free/From the Congo to Sudan, the people will have their land.” He handles himself with the same demand in the following line, calling on his own people to rise with no room for doubt. “HOPE!” starts with “If you’re hearing this, come back/You’re still here,” and includes the only verse on SOULWAVE 2153 that talks about money: “The pressure’s getting worse/The bills are piling up/It never seems to be enough/Survival mode keeps the system on high,” and questions if it’s all worth it. He tells himself everything will be alright, and offers to get you through to the other side.
Above Average (★★★☆☆)
Favorite Track(s): “BIG EGO,” “TIME TRAVELLIN’ LOVER,” “BIRTHRIGHT”