By MKHOKHELI ZIBENGWA.
JOY RUKANZA fans are in for a treat this September, as the UK based singer and songwriter is set to host a show in which she will perform her debut album, MatterMoreForSis, which was released on June 23, last year.
Dubbed "Joy Rukanza & MatterMoreForSis Orchestra," the show is slated for the 7th of September at the Music Academy in Bulawayo.
Joy Rukanza told Byo Arts News Online (BANO) that fans should expect "a great evening of storytelling through song." Those familiar with my music can expect to hear something different," she said
She went on to explain the inspiration behind her debut album which she will be performing on the day.
"This album has been specially arranged to accommodate an orchestra and what inspired me to do this is my love and passion for both classical and modern pop and RnB music. I took music classes in College and have performed different classical pieces with choirs and orchestras before."
"When I released my album, I started exploring the possibilities of performing my modern music in that style. I am so glad that I finally get to do it with this upcoming performance."
Joy Rukanza is a Zimbabwean musician whose professional music career began in 2014. Rukanza released her debut solo record, New Day, featuring South African hip-hop artist KiD X, in early 2021, and then released her follow-up single, Roses, which premiered on BBC Music before its official release in March 2021. She is one of the first Zimbabwean musicians to be invited to a BBC Music cypher, courtesy of BBC Music. Joy Rukanza is a two-time Roil Bulawayo Arts Awards nominee.
BELOW IS A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF JOY RUKANZA'S "MATTERMOREFORSIS" ALBUM
The album draws parallels with (metamorphosis) the scientific transformation from an immature to an adult form in two ways.Firstly, it tells a love story where the main character goes through different stages of grief
after experiencing heartbreak. Initially, she is angry, depressed, and uninterested in finding love again. However, she gradually accepts her situation, discovers her purpose, and learns to move once more.
The album's eleven tracks use a dynamic fusion of disparate tempos, tones, and moods to convey this transformation message. Listeners are taken on a journey with the protagonist, where the story begins with heartbreak and progresses through anger, depression, and unwillingness to love.
Eventually, she accepts her fate, finds her path, and learns to love again. The album features ballads, breakup paeans, and up-tempo tunes to tell this story and engage the listener during this voyage.
MatterMoreForSis is also an ode to women, encouraging them to prioritize their happiness. JoyRukanza appeals to women to find the strength to abandon unfortunate situations, take inventory of what matters to them, and prioritize themselves.
