Afro-Folk Singer-Songwriter Naomi Wachira Highlights Human Equality On New Single

Written by: Jen Dan

Kenyan-born and now Seattle, Washington-residing Naomi Wachira is an Afro-folk singer-songwriter who powerfully highlights our shared humanity in a time of world-wide turmoil. Wachira recently released her second album, Songs of Lament, which she says, “…was born out of the many tragic losses we’ve witnessed globally.”

Wachira bowed on the music scene with her debut EP in 2012 and that record, with the statement song “African Girl”, jump-started the musical path she’s on now. The artist is determined to contribute to the positivity of the world, creating music that is hopeful and uplifting while still dealing with tough cultural topics.

Wachira released her acclaimed self-titled debut album in 2014, as well as the EP I Am Because You Are in 2015. Her new album, Songs of Lament, was recorded at the famed London Bridge Studio in Seattle with producer Eric Lilavois (Saint Motel, Atlas Genius, My Chemical Romance) at the helm.

The artist’s latest composition is the inspiring, lyrics-centered “Beautifully Human.” Celebrating human differences, Wachira sings in a halting, clarion tone, “Don’t make me prove why I should be / why I belong / why I deserve to be here.” amid a gently bouncing rhythm of brisk and brief acoustic guitar strikes. Shaken and clacking percussion and other upbeat instrumentation sharply pepper her words as she asserts, “I deserve to be here.”

An admirer of the renowned Tracy Chapman and Miriam Makeba, Wachira is intent on helping to make the world a better place. She explains, “I know we are certainly living in dark times, but I hope that we will all find the courage to be light in whatever way we’ve been gifted… That we will seek to understand those who are different from us and find ways to both acknowledge and celebrate our differences and similarities.”