In Recess, Joshua Baraka reiterates that his musical primacy is not predicated on dense narratives but on day-to-day moments of introspection that anyone can relate to.
By Frank Njugi
Ugandan singer and songwriter, Joshua Baraka, often appears as a musical act operating on a completely different level from his peers. Within a short time, he has become a virtuoso, carving melodies from the mundane. He has emerged as a force of nature, playing in a realm his peers could only dream of reaching, and quickly etching his name into the African music industry.
In 2023, he released the hit song “Nana” — the first defining note of his rise and success, and, more significantly, a song that became a key to unlocking the pulse of a cultural era.
A period in which Ugandan music is positioning itself as a rising tide, swelling with talent and emerging as the brightest beacon in the broader East African music industry.
As a follow-up to “Nana”, Baraka released Growing Pains, a seven-track EP featuring plush production from frequent collaborator and beatsmith Axon, which included his second hit song, “Dalilah”. Most recently, Baraka returned with another EP titled Recess.
Recess beautifully builds upon Joshua Baraka’s earlier brilliance, continuing to showcase his established mastery and lyrical expressions with a universal beauty and appeal.
Baraka kicks off Recess with the track “Someday”, featuring Highlife and Afrobeats Ghanaian singer-songwriter, KiDi. “Someday” is an anthem of hope, with KiDi and Baraka singing about one day finding a heart that echoes back the love they have been sending into the world. The song carries an Afrobeats sensibility, with its beat leaning heavily towards melody.
This aesthetic of melody curling and cascading with a mesmerizing Afrobeats beauty, is also witnessed in the only other song with a feature in the EP, “Magnetic”.
A track which closes off the project, “Magnetic”, features Kenyan vocalist Bensoul, and with Baraka, they sing on the irresistible pull of love over a beat full of the emotive sensibilities of contemporary RnB music.
The second track on Recess, “Desire”, features a mid-tempo polyrhythmic drum pattern — multiple rhythmic lines intersect and overlap, creating an organised yet enjoyable sound. This rhythm seems to represent or convey the anticipation and excitement of pursuit, while also suggesting both the intensity and fragility of longing, which Baraka explores in his lyrics.
Themes of longing and desire are further examined in “Lonely”, a song highlighted by Baraka’s soulful and deeply emotive vocal delivery. His voice, drenched in raw emotion and rich with fragility, pulls at the heartstrings as he sings of how palpable loneliness feels in his life.
The single “Down” is an Amapiano track with big percussive basslines, jazz-inflected synth lines, and a pitched, dance-driven repeated hook — a plea to a girl named Isabella to become everything one needs in a lover.
The song’s lyrics uphold Baraka’s signature style of naming his songs after female lovers or seamlessly weaving their names into the lyrics.
Sticking to this habit, Joshua Baraka also includes a song titled “Nancy” on Recess. “Nancy” poses a simple yet profound question: why does Nancy whisper through Baraka’s thoughts like a wind that never ceases to stir, and why is her presence an unshakable rhythm that keeps time in his soul?
The exploration of the fear that accompanies deep emotion is what Joshua Baraka retains in the follow-up to “Nancy”, perhaps the most impressive track on Recess — a single titled “Scared”. Baraka boldly claims his roots, paying homage to the very essence that fuels his passion while vulnerably admitting his fear that his talents might fail to make a mark.
“Scared” is produced with a synthetic, piano-infused pop beat that prioritises mood over scene-setting. Lyrically, the song does not describe a specific place or event but instead induces a meditative state, allowing Baraka to vulnerably explore his essence.
In Recess, Joshua Baraka reiterates that his musical primacy is not predicated on dense narratives but on day-to-day moments of introspection that anyone can relate to.
Any deeper themes seem to have a spectral presence, with the true focus being on these everyday reflections that resonate universally. Baraka beautifully captures the quiet, shared moments of contemplation we all experience.
Born to a Kenyan father and Ugandan mother, Joshua Baraka continues to be a shining beacon of East Africa’s potential, proving that this region is a wellspring of unmatched talent and artistry.
While Recess might appear to be a potential placeholder before a more substantive album release, the EP remains a crescendo that propels his artistic evolution forward and further solidifies his reputation.
Lyricism – 1.3
Tracklisting – 1.2
Sound Engineering – 1.6
Vocalisation – 1.7
Listening Experience – 1.5
Rating – 7.3/10
Frank Njugi is a Kenyan Writer, Culture journalist and Critic who has written on the East African and African culture scene for platforms such as Debunk Media, Republic Journal, Sinema Focus, Culture Africa, Drummr Africa, The Elephant, Wakilisha Africa, The Moveee, Africa in Dialogue, Afrocritik and others. He tweets as @franknjugi.