In every song on Saint’s new album, Saintrified, a familiar tag declares, “turn it up a little louder”. But most of the songs that follow are anything but little as they arrive with the force of a deafening roar.
The 15-track album is largely well delivered, boasting strong songwriting, production that complements each song, concepts with substance and vocal performances that suit the mood and demands of individual songs.
The album comprises Penapake, Lemons, Kilomita, Declare featuring Aura Nicole, Misconceptions featuring Home Grown African, Jenifa, Muzindikhululukira, Daleda featuring Tuku Kantu and Mwanaa, Something Different featuring Eli Njuchi, 50/50 featuring Pressure Busspipe and Bensoul, Malesa, Lydia Gelo, Abale, Nomale and Agide featuring Daredevilz.
Penapake
Penapake is a tribute to people who died, with Saint remembering figures such as soldier Lucius Banda, Saulos Chilima, Mr. Chikwawe, Bingu wa Mutharika, Brian Banda, Matafale, Martse, Mafunyeta and Vic Marley, among others.
The delivery is low-key, using a medium tempo that gives the song room for introspection. There are little or no vocal show-offs. As such, the simplicity allows the reflective mood and lyrics to take centre stage.
The song goes, partly: “Mesa they say mumamva komanso mumationa. Chithunzi chokha mukanatuma. Tione mmene mukuonekera…”
The chorus turns the reflection inward with Saint acknowledging that one day he too will stand, sit and sleep somewhere waiting for his name to be called.
Agide
Featuring Daredevilz, Agide celebrates the legendary musician Giddes Chalamanda, the Linny Ho hitmaker. Rather than waiting for praise to arrive after death, the artists give him his flowers while he can still smell them. Its chorus carries a strong singalong element as it goes, “Ngati Agide, Live my life with no holiday. Live my life mpaka 90. Live my life mpaka forever.”
GD delivers a verse packed with rhymes while sticking to the concept. Marcus closes the song with another powerful verse, shifting styles along the way without losing the song’s momentum.
Something Different featuring Eli Njuchi
Love can be sweet but it can also leave scars. Something Different explores the experience of people who have moved from one relationship to another after their good times eventually turned sour.
Saint and Eli Njuchi sing from the perspective of someone who has seen it all and now wants something beyond the familiar. It goes in part: “If you really want me now, I don’t want dates. Not your ndalama, I don’t want cash. Not your maluwa, I don’t want flowers. Ndinaziona kale ine…”
Eli extends the idea in the second verse, rejecting the usual displays of romance and asking for something genuinely different.
Lydia Gelo
Lydia Gelo lambasts people who meddle in other people’s affairs and quickly turn success into gossip. Saint exposes the behaviour through lines such as: “Wagula benz ndi wa ma blesser. Wamanga den ndi wa ma blesser… Wakwera udindo, ati wa bwana. Wavaya Dubai, pali ma sponsor.”
The song encourages those being talked about to ignore the noise, protect their aura and focus on their progress.
Daleda featuring Tuku Kantu and Mwanaa
Daleda is a love ballad built around a melody that is catchy and soothing. Tuku Kantu opens with an ethereal delivery, Saint handles the second verse with dexterity and simple but effective lyrics, while Mwanaa closes with a rap verse.
Its chorus is infectious and vibey as it goes: “Help me sing this melody, Dale daleda. Music is the melody, Dale daleda. Love is like a melody, love in my head. Love on my shoulder weak in my knees…”
Jenifa
In Jenifa, Saint explores how people enter relationships with hope, only to endure maltreatment when things turn sour. As a result, the damage becomes too deep to repair.
He encapsulates the transformation through the lines: “Lero ukubwera pano nkumati mkazi wako ndi player. Unamuononga ndiwe Jenifa. Unamusintha ndiwe Jenifa. Unamuyambitsa ndiwe…”
Saint continues to turn up the volume in Lemons, 50/50, Muzindikhululukira and Kilomita, among other songs. The album does more than simply honour its opening instruction, it lives by it.
