Namakau Star starts Landing with a series of vexing questions concerning a sense of millennial existentialism. “If tomorrow never comes, would you say that you did it all?” is one of the questions. Thankfully, throughout the brief listen, Namakau often answers this bellowing uncertainty with optimism.
She takes us on an adventure, gently guiding us into the future with the nostalgic yet futuristic bop of “2088”. And, nestled neatly within the nexus of singers like Shekhinah and Elaine, Namakau’s defining characteristic is that her sound leans further left from the mainstream. The production is reminiscent of something one might have heard on Cilvia Demo by Isaiah Rashad, with a neo-soul groove dating back to the late 90s and escapist songwriting.
Namakau compares to fellow R&B up-and-comer Roho, as both artists share a unique penchant for creating a dizzying melody, sometimes from a single word, creating a thematic core for a song with a catchy hook. On songs like the sensual “Floating” or the project’s standout “Rewind”, she uses this storytelling technique. On the former, Namakau explores existential dread, longing to be free and to breathe, subtly alluding to marijuana as her way out.
“Seazn Luv” (featuring LordKeyyZ) has a beautifully abstract beat akin to styles explored by Ma$hBeatz and A-Reece on Reece Effect or, more recently, on tracks like “Morning Peace”. LordKeyyZ delivers a masterfully sung ode to his love interest, complementing Namakau.
Throughout the EP, Namakau navigates her feelings of unease and struggles as a young artist. She assesses her journey in the entertainment industry, confidently asserting: “When you trust the process, never lose your focus”.
The theme of travelling through time and space to convey her struggles – from feeling lost to aloneness – is effective. However, an area of improvement could be in letting us know why she feels this way.
When an artist teases themes as heavy as those explored on Landing, more personal and specific reflections can often aid in making the artist more relatable and the music more accessible. Parts of the extended play get a bit heady and overly focused on the ethereal, opting for less specific wording, which can sometimes feel like a missed opportunity to connect with her audience. We know she wants success in her career, art, and love life. However, without the necessary pretext in her songwriting, all this doesn’t always translate to her becoming a character to root for in her quest for greatness.
Namakau has a lot of potential, especially given the soul-lifting magnetism of her melodies and simple, vibe-based approach to making music. With a little more precision in her mixes, one can easily see her reach her aspirations and take her place among the greats in post-neo-soul.
As a whole, Landing intrigues with its mesmerising soundscapes and shows us an artist on her way. As Namakau Star continues to move, only the skies can tell where she’ll eventually land.
