Kagwe Mungai Releases Debut Album 'Spectrum'

Kagwe’s debut album has an alluring and unclassifiable sound. Rarely has a hybrid of new wave and experimental Afro-pop music led to such an introspective place. The singer, producer and songwriter’s entire album, is a continuously giving patchwork of genre-smashing sounds.

Kagwe Mungai has packed a lot of life into his thriving career, he moved to South Africa for 3 years where he picked up drums and toured with a jazz band around JoBurg. Shortly after he lived in Uganda and got an internship with the producer, Steve Jean at Fenon records. He started producing and theatre at 13 years and picked up the Saxophone by age 16.

Apart from his groundbreaking sounds, Kagwe has also collaborated with a few artists, notably Mayonde, Fena Gitu, Naiboi and Trina Mungai, who all feature in ‘Spectrum’. Among his lyrical prowess, he has also produced for Sauti Sol, Miss Karun, and Vanessa Mdee as well as opened shows for the likes of Ty Dolla Sign. That collective experience could have fed into a pop project defined by a strong sensibility and pointed perspective on the world. Instead, Kagwediversified. And now, with the release of his debut album ‘Spectrum’, it is clear that he is unique, African and timeless, three words he chooses to describe himself.  

“Supaseena” brings the trap home whilst “You Know” and “Good Times” offers a varied beat palette that flirts with Afro-carribean pop and metallic tones reminiscent of a xylophone and embraces an eclectic steel pan beat. He amps the anty in “Unintentional” with liberal f-bombs that lend a devil-may-care fami