Joshua Baraka has been a breath of fresh air to Uganda’s music scene with his melodious voice and his unrelenting drive of dropping gem after gem. His musical style has transitioned over the years but this time around, his latest EP, “Watershed” has gotten people to recognize his genius behind the microphone.
The five EP was released on the 21st of October and I have taken my time listening to it. Punched with songs like Next to You, Angel of Mine, You, Run and Mama I Made It, the album has its unique feel to it.
In his new EP, Joshua Baraka explores a multitude of emotions and experiences from his personal life – to create a magical Afro-pop album that echoes deeply to very hardships many of us go through. His emotions of love, being a friend to others, and the struggles of his current journey in the career path he has chosen are well defined in the Watershed EP.
A deep dive into Jousha Baraka’s Watershed EP
Next to You
In this song, Baraka talks about how the world is falling but importantly, how he will be right next to her just to hold her when her world is all coming down. This is a message about being there for your person when it looks like their entire world is crumbling and you are the person that can give them the shoulder that they crave.
Next to You is one of the highlights of the album and the song speaks volumes about trust, love, and friendship being the important aspects that shouldn’t be ignored.
Angel of Mine
We all need that person who we can run to when things are falling apart or just someone who will be there for us at any time. That friend who is just ready to make sure that you smile even though there is a distance between you. This song is a letter to that friend that as much they have your back, you will have their backs back.
You
First of all, don’t let Joshua Baraka talk to your girl even if you’re nearby. And if you happen to walk to the washroom and he suddenly decides to sing You to your girl, please don’t call the Boy’s group to help you. That is a you problem.
This is such a flirtatious song by Baraka, he just describes all his feelings for the girl he likes and how it’s the kind of song you share with your girl when you have messed up and is intentional about getting her back. I won’t lie, you can catch yourself almost texting your ex. So be careful with this one. You may listen to it 200 times and it will still feel gorgeous.
Run (featuring IzabelUG)
This song talks about his struggles of keeping on the journey of his career. You constantly find yourself questioning every move that you make, asking yourself if you’re good enough for it and even though the world may be rooting for you, it’s like the world is against you.
In this song, he ably captures the struggles and emotions of many creatives who constantly cast doubt over themselves, and more so in Uganda, where the ecosystem and surroundings seem like they are all against you, he says what most are struggling to say.
Mama I made it (He features Lagum the Rapper)
In Run, Joshua and Izabel talk and ponder on the challenges of being creative and how questions of walking away kept ringing in their minds.
In Mama I made it, Joshua and Lagum promise that they will persist with the dream because they believe that they can, and they want to have the opportunity to one day just tell mom that they made it. It’s a song of perseverance and pushing oneself to continue with the dream.
Overall, Watershed is the kind of EP that will have you falling in love, getting scared of those friends who recklessly throw around flirtatious words, have your emotions running full circle because you remember the days you sat in your living room wondering whether what you are doing is good enough and if you will ever amount to anything. Then it will wrap it up by encouraging you to continue going on till you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
This EP was fantastically produced and mastered and the marketing was well done to the point where you can say it marketed itself. Joshua Baraka has a lot more coming his way and it helps that the songs no longer last 5 minutes, unless of course you are producing a gospel song or kadongo kamu.
The Watershed EP is out and available online.
Also, read; Alive In Barcelona Take Another Leap with Their Heavy-Hitting ‘Flatline’ EP
