On International Women’s Day (08/04), TrendSetters Africa’s Ismail Alibhai also professionally known as Lamu dropped her first single of the Year, since 2020’s ‘No Pressure’ EP titled “Beautiful”.
Written by Okot Mark, Gumisiriza Richard, Zahra Ahmed and Lamu herself, and sang in English, Swahili and Luganda; “Beautiful”is a kind reminder of how amazing and special each one of us truly is, and the ‘Pata’ singer refers to it as a love letter to herself. The beautiful song is an urban inspirational song that will lift anyone’s spirit at first listen and is available on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes.
Monday this week I did get a privilege to pay a visit to the new and prestigious TAG Studios (Talent Africa Group) Studios in Kololo to an invite-only event where I got to interact with some of the members of TrendSetters Africa, the studio premises, and also listen to some really dope unreleased projects. We then proceeded to the Talent Africa office rooftop in a sundowner cocktail where several musicians who came out to support one of the next big things on the entertainment scene were hosted.
Being a media guy, the invite was inevitable, ay? A big reveal was brewing! As it was tending towards 6 O’clock, Lamu checked in, and that is how you know the show was about to go down. To an audience composed of the members of the media, representation from both TrendSetters Africa and Talent Africa Group, friends and some underground urban acts.
Lamu performed her singles: ‘Habibi’, ‘Pata’, back-to-back and most of her EP, and closed it with ‘Beautiful’ as the crowd sang along in sync! It was upon this her management and her made the first announcement of the night; which was that the music video was to be screened for very first time viewing; following its completion. The colorful video was directed by Cleodelia Nanjuba and Cyril Ducottet of TAG Studios as the Director of Production.
The song’s visual highlights the beauty of how special each one of us is hence use of the different shades and variants colors in the video, and was shot from right here in Uganda. Watch Below:
In remarks that led to a Q&A session, Lamu had shared that during the time of lockdown last year, she and her team recorded a lot of music dubbed “The Lockdown series” following TAG Studio’s Artists’ Relations Manager Bryan Kella McKenzie who onboarded her. Upon being asked whether a new full-length LP or project was in the works, she revealed that ‘No Pressure’ the EP was basically her blossoming, singing about love as a theme. She added that she has now matured as an artist and that we shall hear more of that on the next, however an album or EP this year wouldn’t be possible; professionally and also putting into context the la of demand, so it’ll be a few singles but for the album, we should expect that next year.
Onto the second and final reveal of the night: The signing of the 24-year-old bubbly songstress follows her contribution on maiden project, the Lockdown Series with TAG Studios where she recorded a couple of songs and initiated the discussion with Talent Africa that got would later get her signed.
Talent Africa Group CEO, Aly Alibhai hailed Lamu for being hard working, versatile and creative in her art. She recently signed an audio and visual recording deal with TAG studios and Talent Africa Group as her official booking agency.
Through Talent Africa, Lamu also got the opportunity to be part of the select showcase of the East African sound at first ever virtual MIDEM global music conference organized in September 2020. Midem is hosted in France annually and is billed as the leading international business event for the music ecosystem since its inception in 1967.
In a recent interview with Crystal Newman, Lamu shares her journey to working with Talent Africa who she calls her dream Team.
“I always wanted to work with Talent Africa and ironically, most people thought we were related to Aly since I have a brother called Ali Alibhai.”
TAG Studios is a 360° Audio Visual Studio & Content Creation Hub that offers multi camera live streaming, Recording Studio, Mix & Mastering, Music School, Video Production & Music Production.
It’s mother brand Talent Africa Group, on the other hand is East Africa’s leading all round events management and entertainment company for over a decade bringing you the most memorable concerts, festivals & corporate event solutions.
TAG Studios’ signing recording deal with rising star, Lamu follows Talent Africa Signing Beenie Gunter in 2018!
TAG Studios is a 360° Audio Visual Studio & Content Creation Hub that offers multi camera live streaming, Recording Studio, Mix & Mastering, Music School, Video Production & Music Production. It’s mother brand Talent Africa Group, on the other hand is East Africa’s leading all round events management and entertainment company for over a decade bringing you the most memorable concerts, festivals & corporate event solutions.
