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Tag: Xenia Manasseh

  • Xenia Manasseh’s new album artfully interweaves soul and introspection

    Xenia Manasseh’s new album artfully interweaves soul and introspection

    Dubbed “Love/Hate Pt. 1”, the album is out on all platforms.

    Alternative R&B Kenyan singer-songwriter, Xenia Manasseh takes listeners on a rollercoaster of emotions with her debut album ‘Love/Hate Pt. 1’- released Friday, September 1. The 11-track work is delicate, fierce and woven with raw and vulnerable lyrics that explore the uncertainties of love.

    The poignant debut album artfully weaves together soulful melodies, introspective lyrics, and relatable dilemmas that are sure to resonate with her fans from all walks of life. The stripped-down visualizer for the title single “Love/Hate” drips with sorrow, hope, and with an eclectic energy that captures the listener at every turn. 

    Speaking about the new album, Xenia says,  “Love/Hate is one of the songs I felt that encompassed all the feelings that are spoken about in the album–the good, the bad, and in-between. I try to remember that balance as [a lifeline]. I’m also a Libra which is the sign of the scale, so I try to see the world through that lens and I felt like it’s not just representative of the album but also of me,” adding, “I feel like everything in the album falls under those two words. It’s like a pendulum swing – you’re in and you’re out.  When people listen, the title will resonate with them.”

    The tracklist includes songs and features as follows:-

    • GI’s Intro feat. Edgar Manasseh
    • Soul Lovers
    • Late Night Check-Up feat. Shalom Dubas
    • Southwards feat. Tay Iwar
    • Anticipate feat. Karun
    • Temporary Love
    • Cheza Chini Interlude
    • Lowkey
    • Niambie
    • Precious
    • Love / Hate

    Opening with “GI’s Intro”, a soft, soulful Swahili song Xenia features her grandfather Manasseh. They harmonize and bond over a Swahili composition by Luka Tututu from the Coast Province, where Xenia’s family comes from, a prelude that sets the tone for the emotional rollercoaster that follows. “Soul Lovers” then kicks in, capturing Xenia’s yearning for a renewed and balanced love, a sentiment that many can relate to. 

    Later, “Late Night Check Up” featuring American-Nigerian rapper Shalom Dubas explores late-night introspections, while “Southwards” with Tay Iwar delves into daydreaming about someone who may not be the right fit. “Anticipate” showcases Xenia’s vulnerability, with the haunting vocals of Karun echoing her worries about the longevity of a romantic relationship. But, in “Temporary Love,” she finds the courage to express her true desires and overcomes anxieties that might have held her back.

    Halfway through the album, “Cheza Chini” casts Xenia as the protagonist asking her partner to safeguard their love in the privacy of their connection, echoing her desire to protect what they have. The same theme is replicated in “Lowkey,” and in “Niambie,” she demands a declaration of love. 

    “Precious” takes us on a journey of self-discovery, as Xenia realizes her self-worth within the relationship. She sets her boundaries and shows us how self-love can be the foundation for all forms of love. 

    With Love-Hate Pt 1, Xenia Manasseh delivers an album that captures the essence of love’s highs and lows, inviting listeners to resonate with the emotions and experiences shared through her soulful music.

  • Xenia Manasseh releases new single ahead of album drop

    Xenia Manasseh releases new single ahead of album drop

    New 11-track album will drop on September 1.

    [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ6RIFze7xc[/embedyt]

    Alternative R&B Kenyan singer-songwriter, Xenia Manasseh, has released “Anticipate” – a brand new single featuring Karun – fellow R&B singer making waves in the growing alternative scene. 

    “Anticipate” is the second lead single off Xenia’s upcoming debut album ‘Love/Hate Pt. 1’ scheduled for release on 1 September 2023. 

    From the heavy drum, bass and percussion interplay in the beginning to the laid-back, impactful, orchestral second half, the new song showcases Xenia’s vulnerability in a simple yet profound storyline complimenting Karun’s haunting vocals. “Anticipate”s lyrics take on the uncertainty of a relationship that no longer blooms or feels the same. 

    “Anticipate” follows the success of her first single off the project – “Temporary Love” where she openly admits to being afraid of love or being in love again and the choices that she made as a result.

    Ahead of the release, Xenia Manasseh says that the making of “Anticipate” was fueled by two friends being honest with each other. 

    “It came from a place where Karun and I were afraid to tap into an emotion we have both experienced and we admit it,” adding, “Anticipate is a song that revolves around time and wanting to move forward from a current state of uncertainty by chasing the feeling of what it used to be.”

    She further admits to finally wanting to be done with love that is temporary or fleeting.

    Like many of Xenia’s songs “Anticipate” lives in the future and the past both sonically and in meaning. Xenia, throughout her career, has been known to create music for a global audience that is a relatable, honest and true reflection of her life, values and experiences. 

    Her music binds people from various walks of life because it speaks of real universal issues and this is replicated in her upcoming 11-track body of work. As Xenia’s debut project, it is beautifully curated, with features that include Tay Iwar and Shalom Dubas. 

    Xenia continues to make waves as an artist who blends stunning lyrical relatability with lush vocals and intricate songwriting. She is renowned for bringing a refreshing new sound to the music scene following the success of her 2019 debut EP Fallin’ Apart. She has captivated a varied audience with the clarity and purity of her tone and successful collaborations like Maybe, a 2022 EP produced by Ukweli.