Welcome to Joda Kgosi’s World
Image: John Baloy
There’s a fresh new wave of African R&B emerging onto the periphery. It’s undeniable. It’s becoming more and more tangible with each artist that surfaces onto the scene to introduce themselves. Joda Kgosi is a name that will be on everyone’s lips and her Sour Milk EP is part of the fabric that will be woven into the identity of new wave African R&B/Soul. Kgosi drops her debut project today at just 18 years old.
Sour Milk opens up with ‘Pity Party’ and sets the theme for the entire EP. Chords hone a melody over a woozy trip beat; “Welcome to my pity party / Where I cry about a boy who don’t care about me.” sings Joda. The lyrics lock you into the world of heartbreak hooks penned by Joda herself. “Every song is basically a heartbreak song. It’s sort of venting. In every song, there’s a positive side where I describe how the love that started off sweet and at the end wasn't so good.” Joda Kgosi explains. “Either because of miscommunication between the other party and myself, or cheating or they just broke my heart.”
The title song leading from Pity Party is nothing short of those emotions. “Sour Milk is just me letting out all my anger. Every single guy I've been with that has made me angry, this project is for them. [laughs].” The constant balladeering in the EP is a showcase of what Joda Kgosi does best. The relatability of each song is worth noting - leaving yourself to question situations you’ve been in through melodic sounds. The songs make you confront every emotion, especially through relationships that could’ve ended during the pandemic. I posed the question around how the lockdowns specifically would have affected Joda creatively in any way. “The pandemic has really made me more creative than often because I haven’t been busy with a lot of things. When I started writing this project I was already in Grade 11 and in Matric. But, when you’re busy with school and not having many things to do on the side, music became my outlet. It’s made me more creative and has given me more time. It’s affected me in a positive way [in that sense].”
Image: stillsbytom
Progressing into the project, “How Dare You” is surprisingly schmaltzy, warm and gentle. Joda vocally riffs “how dare you make me love you when your heart was never there,” proclaiming over an unrequited love. The production is dynamic and delicate to help carry out the heartbreak moment. “The pandemic has given me more time to think things through creatively.” says Kgosi. This is evident in the path chosen for this tightly curated EP. Joda gives us more insight into her growth of her work since the success of “Truth Is”. “With each song, I get better and better. Sometimes, I do have a creative block and the songs I write don’t work out. I’m portraying my story much better than I have, I’ve matured in my writing, singing. Recording ‘Truth Is’ was harder than it is now. I’ve grown much more as an artist.” The EP becomes well-paced with more intrinsic verses, such as the self realising “Energy” and the soft existential of “Empty Sinner”.
Image: John Baloy
Joda Kgosi has more manifestations lined up for her future. “I say this in every interview. I’d love to work with Blxckie, Lord Kez, Money Badoo and Willy Cardiac… those are the people I’d love to work with.” The EP closes off with “I Miss You”, a light and vocally layered ballad that’s short and sweet to round up the emotionally charged project. Joda Kgosi has a brighter future ahead of her, and luckily, she’s allowed everyone to pay attention to the rising star she’s becoming.
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