On “NAMANAMA (for real, for real),” TWAN and STACY KAMATU are having fun with purpose. A breezy, slightly sardonic lovers’ anthem, the song captures that heady feeling of falling in love so hard you don’t even need to try to be devoted.
“NAMANAMA” is about connecting with other people through music, culture, and love. The single features a bouncy rhythm with elements of Electronic, Afro House, Electro Garage, Electro Pop, and Bass House, resulting in something cutting-edge with its feet still on the ground, sounding both modern and classic. The production from TWAN is polished and forward-thinking, with a crisp UKG 2-step-influenced groove that keeps the rhythm stuttering and bouncing in unpredictable ways.
The song’s personality is better with STACY KAMATU present, as her signature wordplay, which transfers seamlessly between Kikuyu, Swahili, and English, lends depth and authenticity to this record. Her delivery perfectly suits the song’s theme of love. “NAMANAMA (for real, for real)” has an even greater effect, given that it was created between London and Denver over the last two years. It’s an actual meeting of worlds across geography, culture, and creativity.
For TWAN, the song demonstrates his versatility as an Italian-British artist, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ. For STACY KAMATU, the track represents a brazen announcement of her Kenyan-American heritage, and its resonance for a singer-songwriter transcending borders. This release proves that both artists are moving into a thrilling new moment in which dance music is once again a place of storytelling, sharing cultures, and creativity without fear.
Connect with TWAN on Instagram – @twanmvsic
