By Ayomide Tayo
Album– The Audition E.P
Artiste– Kamar
Guest Appearances– Ozone, Ice Prince
Production– Leriq
Record Label– Aristokrat Records (2014)
Duration– 38 Minutes
Kamar’s Audition Hints At His Future Leading Role In The Game
Next from Aristokrat’s factory output line is Kamar– the bilingual silky R&B singer. If you were familiar with Aristokrat’s discography, then you would have heard Kamar’s silky voice on Pucado’s single ‘Imposter’. After impressing on that cut, Kamar stands on his own in his first major project titled ‘The Audition E.P.’
Consisting of 10 tracks, and solely produced by Leriq, Kamar showcases what he has to offer. In actual truth, what he is offering is quite impressive. A singer with a smooth voice, who sings fluently in English and Hausa, Kamar is aiming to bring a new brand of R&B to the game.
With Leriq’s signature sound- spacy, dreamy, and dark synths, Kamar sings about what R&B singers sing the most- Love. The self proclaimed ‘KD boy, Hajia toy’ starts off with ‘Angel Maria’. With a dreamy, ethereal sound bed Kamar sings ‘Take me to the sky. Take me to the sea. Make me feel like say I fit walk on top water…all I see is Angel Maria.’ Not wasting time, Kamar drops one of the best songs on the EP on track two. Titled ‘Fix’, Kamar sublimely sings about the struggle of having a main chick, and side chick. ‘It’s extremely hard to cope. I am going to let my heavy heart explode. Am I in this alone? Is there anybody out there feeling this way? I am in two different zones…my heart is in two different places’ he sings in the first verse, struggling between his two babes. By the time hook comes in, Kamar is still entangled in his predicament- ‘Caught up between my fantasy, and my reality. What I want, and what I need. Who would stay, and who should leave. What am I to do ’cause they mean the world to me? I know I lie, but if I say the truth, I might lose the two.’ This song reveals Kamar’s songwriting ability, which is as easy Sunday morning (in most cases) while still delivering the emotional.
While not as dope as the first two tracks, ‘Asirin’ (a stringy treat of Hausa R&B), ‘Salo’ (a slightly up-tempo track with a tint of Robo-pop with Naija style of writing ‘she dey corner me anyhow- Mafikizolo’), and ‘Cash & Carry’ (a song where Kamar sings about his encounter with a groupie, and the commercial appeal of his songs) keep the project moving at an impressive pace.
The Audition E.P hits a snag at track 6- ‘I Like It’ featuring Ice Prince. The song should have been scrapped from the project. Kamar quickly recovers on ‘It’s Friday’ an R&B pop song. Trying to get the affection of a babe who is fronting, the AR artiste sings, ‘I know you fine girl, even a blind man sef can tell. E don they no be today. I don dey pursue like say I don dey craze…I know you like me. I see you smiling stylishly.’ Planning to get her finally, he hopes their Friday groove seals the deal. ‘Wish For’ featuring Ozone is Kamar’s most emotional song on his E.P. Conceptually, the track talks about every guy’s worst nightmare- being stuck in the friend zone. Kamar doesn’t take the egotistical approach by walking away. Rather he waits for his turn, and advises the lady who doesn’t know that he exists that she will get her heart broken by her current boyfriend- ‘Walahi, that nigga will hurt you, but I will be right there.’ Ozone, who is also signed to Aristokrat, makes a noteworthy appearance with two verses (‘Woman of my dreams-beautiful nightmares/if dreams came true, God knows you will be right here. /digging you long time- planning these ideas/if you turn a deaf ear, don’t gaze with a blind stare.’)
With ‘Party Life’, which boasts of a typical Leriq production, Kamar ends his debut project with a party track. Instead of taking the ‘Naija pop’ route, he delivers a party track with an 80’s vibe that is dreamy.
Kamar’s audition has proven to be fruitful. If he continues to grow within the direction, he is granted to have a leading a role when the next generation of pop stars in Nigeria begin to emerge. The Audition E.P is a clear snapshot of what his future holds.
Rating- 3.5/5
