Sweet J is a musician that knows how to create an atmosphere and a moment with her music, both musically and vocally. “Siiri ta Gelbi” immediately introduces that type of inventiveness, gradually developing a soundscape that is both contemporary and serene surrounding its listeners.
Sweet J is the stage name of Mbaraza Joy Enosa Baburu, a South Sudanese singer and songwriter. She is also known as the “Queen of Azande Music” and hails from South Sudan. She is a Zande by tribe, hailing from Gbudue state in Yambio, and grew up in a family of singers. She is currently obtaining a degree in social work and social administration in Kampala, Uganda. Her love of music began in church as a Sunday school student when she was a child, and she started a professional career in 2007.
Sweet J has performed in key cities around South Sudan, including Yambio, Tambura, Juba, and Kampala, Uganda. She travels throughout the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda, performing global music, Zuku, and native South Sudanese music. Her song advocates for national unity, reducing gender-based violence, and the abolition of child marriage in her country.
The dance-hall/Afrobeat bounce adds a summertime rhythm to an originally retro and synth-soaked environment, helping to keep things interesting. Blend in that voice, honesty, and character, and the whole song illuminates the Sweet J sound and personality in a catchy, authentic way.
There’s a brilliant finish to the whole thing. It flows through with delightfully dynamic and swift familiarity – the hook sinks in, as does the artist’s style, and musically there’s a fair amount to enjoy that sets this apart from the majority of recent recordings.
Sweet J is an artist who skillfully pays tribute to lightness. Things can be upbeat without dropping heavy or pushing for swift tempos.
One of the most powerful anthems of Afrobeat music, the song “Siiri ta Gelbi” is definitely intentional in reaching a bigger audience in the following weeks and months. It’s definitely worth listening to at total volume.
