If you’re in the mood for a crazy audiovisual treat (and who isn’t?) it’s time to check this video out. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Makeba whilst browsing my Facebook newsfeed, and I have since downloaded Jain’s debut album on Apple Music. It is by far the best track on the record, which is saying something, because Zanaka is an explosion of international styles and flavours. If you’re feeling at all limited by what’s available out there, Makeba promises a fresh perspective from a brand new generation of musicians. The video is just important as the music, and I was not surprised to find that French-born Jain studied music production in the DRC and fine art in Paris. The video features Jain singing and dancing, accompanied by an array of African dancers. It takes place in an urban landscape and it offers its viewers surprises at every corner. From high rise buildings expanding and contracting and moving graffiti to wildlife in close quarters to the lead singer, the video is a beautiful representation of what it’s really like to visit Africa. The juxtaposition of city scenes with rural landscapes is not really a juxtaposition, but rather a depiction of reality and it’s beautiful!
The song, as the title suggests, is a tribute to the late Miriam Makeba, and it is a delightful image of the influence that the revered African singer has had even beyond the grave. But the song is not exclusively African. Jain’s genre is defined as World pop and that seems apt even after a surface level exploration of her music. The African beats are met with heavy electronic bassy sounds, vivacious electric guitar riffs and the combination of choral voices joined by Jain’s own harmonies. Heavily edited vocals add to the quirky musical landscape which also features saxophone sounds and unique percussive techniques. Live bass joins the heavy electronic edits and weird vocal tampering completes the package. The production on the song is world class, waxing and waning in a way that sends its listeners into something of a trance. Makeba’s video sees Jain behind a DJ booth, breaking it down and looking down at intricate cityscapes. Images of the singer are interspersed with dancing children (think Maddie Ziegler, not Starsearch), and gumboot dancers in overalls. It’s difficult to explain the explosion of colour and creativity that make up Makeba, and let’s not even approach the envy I have for Jain’s chosen wardrobe! So instead, I’ll send you right over to the video to experience the wonder for yourself.
