Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Maria Chiguvari Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
After an eight-year break from releasing a full-length album, contemporary musician Thula Wazi hit-maker Vuyo Brown has returned with Imprint, a genre-blending project that encourages young people to find their identity in God rather than in the pressures of modern society.
Inspired by the biblical message in Isaiah 43:1, the album explores themes of faith, purpose and self-worth at a time when, according to Brown, many young people are being influenced by trends, social media, depression and substance abuse.
“There are so many different voices speaking in this generation and they are loud – from trends, to depression, to drugs. I’m asking, ‘In all that, who does God say you are and what do you think about it?’
“You don’t have to go through life searching for yourself. You can know who you are now and live intentionally,” Brown told Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub.
Imprint is Brown’s second studio album and her first full-length project since her debut eight years ago. Known for refusing to be boxed into a single genre, Brown combines gospel, jazz, country, R&B, soul, Afro-pop and alternative music on the album. Despite the diversity in sound, she says the message remains unchanged.
“My sound is hard to classify, so Contemporary Christian Music best describes what I do. My message never changes; only the expression changes.”
To make the listening experience more intentional, Brown divided the album into three colour-coded sections – pink, orange and yellow – each representing a different musical mood.
“I’m a multi-genre musician, so I didn’t want listeners to feel lost. The colours group similar sounds together. The album begins with meditative praise and worship, moves into warm alternative sounds and ends with upbeat tracks.”
The project features collaborations with JustPercy, Vusa Mkhaya and Swazy. Brown said each artiste was carefully chosen to complement the songs.
“Vusa Mkhaya has an authentic African sound that I wanted for Abel. Swazy brought exactly the energy I envisioned for Hey, while JustPercy, who also produced most of the album, remains my most featured collaborator.”
Brown hopes Imprint will build on the regional audience she has cultivated over the years through songs such as Thula Wazi, No Way, Vuyani and Ndikuxolele, which have enjoyed radio and television airplay in Eswatini, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia and South Africa.
“I am actually yet to win a gospel award, but my previous songs have already opened doors across the region. I hope Imprint strengthens what those songs introduced.”
Having spent more than a decade in the music industry, Brown has earned a reputation as one of Zimbabwe’s respected contemporary artistes, known for her soulful vocals and uplifting messages.
