In the past few years, Turunesh has risen through the ranks as one of the exciting acts at the cutting edge of Tanzania’s budding alternative r&b scene. Her signature slurred singing and evocative visuals set her apart. And for her latest project, Nesha’s Cypher, the Tanzanian-born Toronto-based artist continues to push the envelope of her creativity this time, sitting at an interesting junction between old and new as she experiments with classic r&b staples and futuristic synth textures.
On Nesha’s Cypher, we find Turunesh exploring the age-old themes of love and loss. Ever the poet, she approaches the project like a journal of sorts, documenting and keeping stock of her journey towards rediscovery and self-love. Unlike the heavily-collaborative sophomore project, Satin Cassette, Nesha’s Cypher’s 10 tracks project are mostly solo affairs save for the assist from Kenya’s Mau from Nowhere and Karun on “Virgin Denim”. “I need you close to me/Tamagotchi baby,” she belts on the previously released syrupy “Tamagotchi”. She metaphorically paints a picture of the maintenance and emotional toll of relationships using the 90s digital pet.
Throughout the project, Turunesh proves that finding healing may not always be linear or smooth. Sometimes, it can be a cocktail of conflicting emotions. In all, Nesha’s Cypher is an intoxicating nod to Turunesh’s emotional transparency and the complexity of her artistry.
