Chimurenga Soul

"Quietly compelling African rhythms and infusions of western house and pop.”
- The Guardian (4 stars)

"It is startlingly, refreshingly excellent.”
- Mojo

Having already released a couple of singles on her own label, with a view to just getting the word out, Netsayi has won considerable acclaim from the media. So that worked then! She is prepared to challenge the black music scene's obsessions with power and materialism. This desire to go against the grain is a real breath of fresh air and her concious, intelligent music has been described by the OMM as reminiscent of great Civil Rights era soul.

'Chimurenga Soul' sees her sliding effortlessly between English and Shona, revealing her dual nationality (born in Camden, raised in Zimbawe, now back in London) and tackling issues of British, African and black identity - imposed, inherited, chosen. Musically the album also melds African influences with pop, jazz, folk, soul and reggae.

"Brave enough to stand up and be counted."
- Observer Music Monthly

"Remarkable."
- Time Out

"Utterly beautiful music."
- Straight No Chaser

"The "soul" in the title of the debut from this Anglo-Zimbabwean songwriter refers to both African roots music and the aspirational British R&B of 1980s stars Loose Ends and Soul II Soul. Those were Netsayi's touchstones while she was growing up in north London and Zimbabwe, and this album incorporates them into a passionate hybrid. This is protest music - "chimurenga" translates as "liberation from struggle" - and she's full of fighting talk, but her jazz-inflected voice is seductive. Heavy on metaphor and simile ("Like a battered T-shirt on the washing line, words have never been this difficult"), her lyrics are partnered by quietly compelling African rhythms and infusions of western house and pop."
- Caroline Sullivan, 2006 Guardian Unlimited Arts

"This UK-born, Zimbabwe-raised singer draws on soul, African folk, gospel and reggae in a compelling debut that reveals her as a songwriter with a message. "Chimurenga" is a Shona word that means "liberation struggle" and the quietly militant lyrics follow the battle to be spiritual in a material world, all underpinned by unadorned production and jaunty guitar riffs that frame her affecting vocals. Imagine a cross between Bob Marley, Miriam Makeba and Jhelisa Anderson and you're close." 
- Kerstan Mackness, Time Out