The “best thing” to come from IdolsSA—a title courtesy of Twitter—released her lead single ‘Suited’ which was received well (the music video has over a million views on YouTube) and made the wait that year 2017 for Rose Gold even more difficult. But, was it worth it?
The album begins with an intro laden with drums while the songstress sings, you don’t even realise it when it fades into the next song. On ‘Into The Jungle’ Shekhinah sings beautifully about wanting to go into the jungle with her lover, over a beat that is carried by what sounds like a hip-hop inspired loop. The transition from ‘Into The Jungle’ to ‘The Sound’ quickly lets the listener know that this is probably going to be an ongoing occurrence throughout the album, not that anyone is complaining. The featured artist was a risk worth taking; Asali’s contribution to the song fits the song like a puzzle piece you doubted would fit—it fits confidently and just right.
It’s probably because I have a thing for pianos, but the first time I heard ‘Overdose’ I knew I’d like it. Shekhinah is one of the songwriters who can make something you’ve heard before sound different and not only because she’s saying it differently but because she makes it sound unique. As cliché as “I’m overdosing on your love” sounds, it feels refreshing because she follows it with a sweet melody.
Grown up music is really nice, especially the break up songs because they aren’t bashful but instead reflective pieces of music that affirm that you can move on and be just fine. That’s what ‘Just Fine’ is to me: we’re done and I’m good, you know what you did and that’s on you. The only way to impress me while trying to let a man know that you’re different is if you don’t bash another type of woman; and Shekhinah and featured artist Mariechan achieve that on ‘Different’.
The hook on ‘Anyway I Want’ reminds me of a flow, a particular flow that I associate with femcee Rouge but I can’t be sure. This isn’t a rap album so I don’t care if I’m right and she really did bite the flow (doubt I’d care even if was a rap album, it’s done well enough to enjoy). ‘Thirsty’ finds Shekhinah confronting her fears of letting someone in although she’s admittedly thirsty. However, she’s not chasing him because she’s aware that he’s dense, “you struggle to hear a girl who don’t got her hands out or her ass out”.
Rouge’s feature on ‘Power To She’ is some of her best work (does Rouge even have bad work?) as she spits a verse over the chilled, vibey beat. Shekhinah’s vocals carry the song to another level: she’s queening and doesn’t need a reason; and you know she’s telling you the truth because it’s not forced. The delivery—on both artist’s parts—is smooth, you get the message as is.
The song that fans keep begging Shekhinah to make her 2nd single is ‘Please Mr’ and it definitely makes sense why. First of all the AfroBeat-like production brings to life a sway of the hips and some movement of the shoulders—although I know it would be more if I were standing—which is perfect for the Summer that’s approaching. Secondly, the hook “when I’m under the weather I can’t help but go back to the days of December” doubles as the perfect words to hear while dancing at a house party in December and as the perfect song to listen to sometime in 2018 when your summer-loving has ended.
The production on the first twelve seconds of the title track sounds like something I’d hear from Tyler, The Creator and this lingers over the rest of the song. ‘Rose Gold’ is sprinkled with the singer’s musings of a better world, a world where peace and love thrive. An idea similar to that of while “looking at someone through rose-coloured glasses, all the red flags look like flags” (Wanda, Bojack Horseman) seems to be what Shekhinah yearns for; no orders or mistakes is what she wants.
‘Suited’ is the song that many—including myself—called the saviour of South African pop music. The premise is simple: we love each other and nothing can separate us. Shekhinah admits that they’re too young to be this serious but it’s not puppy love, it’s too real to be that.
Shekhinah’s song writing is something worth listening to; you find the words to things you’ve been meaning to say underneath the words she sings in her beautiful voice. Shekhinah’s artistry showed throughout the album and there can only be one way to go from here.
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