Tusekah lays down a delightful set of soulful Pop music to an appreciative and enthusiastic young audience at Auckland’s boutique music venue Big Fan.
Tusekah Njoko comes from Durban, South Africa, and her early years she was exposed to the multi-cultural milieu which include the Afro- beat and rhythms of that unique part of the African continent.
Family emigrated to New Zealand when she was in her primary school years and eventually settled in Dunedin.
Looking over her most recent interviews, she says she has always been writing songs from an early age but got seriously involved into performing for others in her latter high school years.
Like so many young artists today, she used the tools of music and production available through the internet and online to teach herself.
Her first few performances were in Dunedin. It has not taken her long to appear as support act for the likes of Deva Mahal, a dynamic and powerful R’n’B voice making a big impact in NZ as one of this country’s most powerful classically styled Soul artists.
She says this is her second tour as a headline act, and for me it is the first time to catch the live show. Just a little nervous, she confesses later.
Kicks off the show with I Ain’t Waiting Around. An edgy Pop song with some kick and shove in the lyrics. Relationship angst. You told me things you said you never told anyone/ But you won’t commit you me.
A sympathetic support band with drums, keyboards, guitar, and a bass guitar which leads a lot of the momentum, reminiscent of the classic sixties Motown bass leads of James Jamerson and Bob Babbit.
Following songs Forever and Always bring the tone down to smooth Seventies styled soft Soul with just enough of an R’n’B edge. Like Gladys Knight, maybe.
This is where we hear a fine old school phrasing in her style and approach. Always is her current single, which can be heard on Spotify.
Smooth and warm like cognac is Time For You. You’re the one I wanna be with.
I’ve Changed. The tempo increases and there is just a little funk in the rhythm. A harder edge to the voice. The recorded version has a nice horn section. Tonight, there’s some lead guitar R’n’B fire.
Childhood Friends stands out as an older style Soul swing with a slow burn, which progresses to upbeat Pop.
Opening the show this evening was Mukuka, who sang a brace of songs to warm up the early crowd.
Mukuka Hope Musowa came to New Zealand as a pre-teen, from Zambia, and this may only be her second public performance.
When she starts with Shout it Out Loud, the heavy beats from the pre-recorded music overwhelm her vocals. Performing solo tonight.
But next one Leave Me Alone might be plaintive, but she invests it with some power, and she has an effective soulful Pop vocal style.
More confident as she goes on.
Verity takes the second support slot, and I have very little information on her. I am assuming she is from Auckland. She has several singles on Spotify and performs a few tonight.
Power Pop and she has a piercing vocal attack impressive in its range. There is a drummer and guitarist onstage, but the essential bass groove is on backing tracks.
Hits a peak with her own two songs, Sober Strangers and Butterfly Effect. Strutting coquette songs which tap into wild and furious energy.
Also does a good cover of Charli xcx’s Party 4 U.
Tusekah finishes the evening with a new song, How Far We’ve Come. The band build a nice swing rhythm behind her as she lays out some soft hip-hop lyrics which has a great dance groove.
A promising Neo-Soul artist and we will be seeing more of Tusekah.
Rev. Orange Peel
