Tshila is back! Tshila has just released a new platter titled World In Crisis. Responding to the issues of today, Tshila has come up with a winner. But first, for those readers not yet familiar with the artist in question, a bit of background:

Tshila

Tshila is a singer-songwriter, rapper, and guitarist, and producer. A native of Kampala Uganda, she is currently based in the US. Her artist audio efforts focus on world music with socially conscious themes. Once a rapper in the hip-hop group Bataka Squad, she later learned to play guitar in order to broaden her musical horizons.

Her 2006 premiere platter,Sipping From The Nile. focuses on a select collection of traditional African songs. This initial album helped her break into the interesting international World Music scene. Since then, she has performed live in both Africa, Europe and the US.

World In Crisis

World In Crisis is Tshila’s second full-length studio album. Here she moves beyond the nationalist focus of her first LP, to a broader one that includes all women of color. In fact, to a certain degree it also ultimately concerns all of us. Her signature sound has grown to become a musical mix of multiple genres including acoustic soul, hip-hop, jazz, rap, traditional African music, world music and a tinge of pop.

Track by track

On this 12-track CD, Tshila leads the way on guitar, keys, bass synth and vocals. She is backed by Steve Capecci on live bass. The album opener is “Intro - Never Existed” sets the stage from the start.

“World in Crisis”, the title track, deals with cash-obsessed values that often urges others to sell what’s “priceless,” Tshila warns that skewed values negatively impact society and that a growing number of people don’t place any value on connecting with others beyond trying to make a buck from it. Tshila is back and stronger than ever.

“Interlude - Keep Calm and Sell Out” is a dramatic spoken break. Her passion is as obvious as her rap roots. It provides a suitable segue too.

The next number is “The Way It Is.” This is an adaptation of Bruce Hornsby and the Range’s 1986 song about societal complacency. While American rapper Tupac Shakur technically beat her to it, Tshila’s version is more focused, current take and while it remains sad she still manages to make it somehow pretty as well despite the hard rap. It features Anton Ransome on keyboards and bass synth.

“Revolution Now” is a bit stronger and as her press release confirms, it’s her “call to emancipation from mental slavery.” It also features quick tip of the hat to one of her personal faves Tracy Chapman. Yes, it might not be an entirely surprisingly selection at this point but she makes it work well.

“Not Alone” follows. She slows things down a bit here with an acoustic piece. It’s a personal reminder that no one is alone in his or her struggle in this life.

“Khube Atweela” takes listeners to another place. Michael Kirkpatrick is introduced on backing vocals. Clearly, the melding of her love of music and political protest is apparent.

“City of Lights” is another example of that mix. It is also obvious that her signature sound--while continuing to slowly blossom and expand--remains solidly intact.

“Interlude- A Girl Has No Name” is labeled as an interlude but it deserves more attention. It’s beautiful albeit brief in its simplicity. Kirkpatrick encores on backing vocals.

Also include here is “Medicine.” It’s an early favorite of both fans and critics. It features Herbert Kinobe on kora.

“Dear God” is another revisit. This time she shares her take on XTC’s 1986 problem with religious dogma and inability to accept and understand that God often works in mysterious ways. It’s much more palatable expressed via her noteworthy voice.

The closing cut is “Water.” It makes interesting use of sound bites from Martin Luther King, Jr. It serves as an apt album endnote and one final example of her ability to blend her love of music with an overpowering need to express her personal concerns. Amadou Kouyate is featured on kora.

According to a post on her website, Tshila’s new release “is a musical message for the world that chronicles our shared challenges and offers universal solutions.” Her material speaks to “social and political challenges” she feels “the world [now] faces.” She is especially concerned “about the issues that affect Africans and people of color worldwide.” She considers it to be her musical mission “to create inspirational music as a force for positive change around the world.”

Overall, the 35+minute album is a personal plea to all people of color to seek self-value and to find their own place in the world without selling out. Despite messages that are not always all-inclusive, the music can be quite immersive and has at times musical moments that are universal and almost always extremely enjoyable. So check out Tshila’s timely World In Crisis and you might just realize that even during hard times, you are “Not Alone.”

(Media courtesy of Tshila and YouTube)