Theo Kgosinkwe - I Am

This is where songwriter/composer/singer Theo seems to pick up the creative cues for his debut album. There is the same sense of diversity here, only now it speaks more to him as an individual and an artist, and whatever might have been shaded under the group’s banner, he now sways out into full view. His affinity for smooth jazz for example, and his re-take on the 90's R&B ballad. The aptly tilted I Am is an introduction to a musical personality, and the music Theo makes leaves nothing out in expressing his range and depth.

The album opens with "Usi sthandwa Sam", a flighty love song with a heavy marabi influence. It vividly recalls the groove of "Ndihamba Nawe" and should easily catch the attention of any Mafikizolo fan. The next few songs are similarly influenced and their sequencing, one after the other, isn't by coincidence. Theo's album is divided into three sections: songs with an Afro-pop feel make up the first; songs in the middle carry a smooth Afro-jazz/R&B vibe; the third section has a decidedly deep house groove. Theo reflects on love, beautiful people and the necessity of showing appreciation for one's blessings.

If there's a drawback, however, it has to be that the album doesn't offer enough variation lyrically. Though the music switches styles, Theo sticks to the same themes throughout the album. The lyrics then end up giving off a sense of repetitiveness and each section ends up sounding like either an Afro-pop or house variation of the same song.

But other than that, I Am is a solid release that should impress any fan of Afro-pop, kwaai-jazz, house and marabi-fuelled love anthems.