Kenyan singer-songwriter Matt Ngesa has released his first full-length album, For the Road. The nine-track project grew out of one of the most frightening periods of his life, when both his parents contracted Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic.

Citizen Digital and The Standard both say the album took about four years of writing and reflection. It deals with family, friendship, love and the experiences that shape a person. Unlike much of today's mainstream music, it is not mainly about romance.

Songs written in a season of worry

While his parents were ill, Ngesa wrote four songs: Muse, August, Kintsugi and Bright. They became the foundation of the record, and the rest of the album was built around the questions they raised about the people who give life meaning.

The focus track is August, which Citizen Digital describes as carrying the album's central message about holding on to the people who matter most. Kintsugi, which features singer Joy Ocholla, takes its name from the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, an image that fits the album's theme of healing.

The full tracklist is: Enough, Bright, When She Calls, August, Muse, Tea, 2am, Hearts on the Ceiling and Kintsugi (featuring Joy Ocholla).

A sound shaped by movement

Ngesa was born in Kenya and grew up between Uganda and the United States. He now lives in Kenya, and his music mixes indie pop, rock and soul with personal storytelling, big melodies and live instruments.

"Movement is both the subject and style of my music: it's taught me to observe, remember, and translate experience," he told Citizen Digital.

He first found his voice in Soul Mind Scars, a band he formed with his sister, before going solo. His debut EP, Rem Me, included the songs Problems and Twende Kazi. He followed it with the singles Oh Shoot, River and Muse.

Muse earned him a performance on COLORS, the Berlin-based platform known for its minimalist live sessions, which has helped many African artists reach global audiences. He has also worked with Itha and Clark Keeng on the joint EP Let's Draw and featured on Muthaka's masala tea.

Part of a busy season for Kenyan releases

For the Road joins a busy final quarter for Kenyan music. Former Sauti Sol member Bien has announced that his 17-track album Alusa Continua will be released on November 20. Kenya's alternative scene, where artists like Ngesa work, has also grown steadily, helped by streaming platforms and live sessions that let independent musicians reach listeners without radio airplay.

Critics and fans who have followed his singles will be watching whether the album can take his introspective sound to a wider audience. For Ngesa, the album is about what carries a person through hard times. Its title suggests songs meant to stay with listeners on whatever journey they are on.

Photos: Citizen Digital, The Standard