Six ways to celebrate triumph with Myra Maimoh

Myra’s sophomore album ‘Uniq’ is now released and available on all major online platforms and it is quite the masterpiece for many different reasons. Very rarely does an artist try to, and succeed in accomplishing so many things in a 6 song EP.

We are taken to the very essence of who the artist is, and what her musical range and influences have been.

A marked departure from her first album, Uniq tells a compelling story of power through adversity and identifying one’s voice and identity; you get the feeling Myra is singing as much to herself as she is to other people. A conviction in message carries throughout the album.

‘A No Go Tire’ is a musical gem that sets the stage for Myra’s believe in finding a home in God and those who matter, as you go through life’s adversity.

This song is so beautiful that the instrumentals are just as powerful as the lyrics, no wonder she includes instrumentals as a separate track.

Myra sticks to her own version of soul which lends itself to her understated vocal range and ability. She lets the song come to her.

Her message of hope shines through as the Spanish guitar takes centre stage – simply sublime.

She ratcheted things up with ‘On Va Danser’, which is as smooth an afrobeat-rnb track as there is out there.

Her Cameroonian and African roots shines through the drums and bilingual lyrics. A call to dance and make merry in appreciation of her motherland.

‘Feh Vitavivi’ is the track that settles you down to into your soulful place. It lets Myra’s voice carry the track as she explores the idea of emerging with power in a mix of English and one of the languages of her fatherland.

The musical cadence of the song and instruments transpose you into a different sphere of relaxation and inflection – a true ‘listener’s’ song if ever there was any.

She brings the power and energy back with the most complex song in the repertoire as we are transported by ‘Beau Parleur’ into a festival of drums, and percussions, and counter rhythms for which African music is so widely noted.

Smooth talker acts as a counter weight to the more extravagant promise songs of the RnB world. Her play on the empty promises, that people are usually are subjected to shows the mind and thinking of the singer philosopher, all combined in a festival for the ears and work for the feet! Breathtaking is the word that comes to mind.

Her title track, Uniq which has a newly released video shot in Cameroon by renowned Adah Akenji, is one for the ages. A hip hop packed girl power anthem which still has some Africa infused into it.

Here, we see Myra the vocalist let loose – her adlibs and octave changes are only matched in effectiveness by the sick bass drops and catchy chorus – all this while still delivering a message of uniqueness and belief to every young girl and lady who dares listen to themselves and their own abilities.

Uniq, her most cross over song delivers to a wider audience of listeners, but it still stays true to who she is in delivering a positive message!

The album rounds up with a collaboration reggae hip-hop track ‘Faraway’ with the sultry and sensationally lazy voice of Tboi. Once more a song sang in yet another language – pidgin, but a song that shows Myra the vocalist unafraid to share the spotlight with another powerful artist.

A song of hope that makes us know wherever we are in our struggles, or successes are not that far away.

You round up the album with instrumentals by enjoying the genius and various influences of the talented and international producers who collaborated to make this album so simply, ‘Uniq’.

Uniq the album, is a triumph in the S-trifecta – Sound, Song, and Soul. It leaves you quite wanting more but not being unsatisfied. An album well worth is price tag and more. Two thumbs up!

ABOUT MYRA MAIMOH

Myra Maimoh was born in Bamenda, the North West Region of Cameroon (in West Central Africa) where she grew up in an average Christian family home with her parents and siblings.

With her mother being her greatest musical influence through the records she owned, Myra Maimoh grew up with artists such as Skeeter Davies, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

She was also heavily influenced by her Mother’s love for African blues through to Country music, traditional African music to Jazz and pop and it was no surprise that Myra started singing and dancing, while still in preschool at the age of 3.

Listen to "On Va Danser" just below!!!