Sandra Nkaké
French touch: Sandra Nkaké
It had been quite a while since I introduced you to some French artists and I am finally featuring an amazing artist I have been wanting to put under my spotlight for a very long time. I don’t really know what took me so long and I hope you won’t be too mad at me for not sharing this treasure earlier. In case you have never heard of Sandra Nkaké, I highly recommend you read the following paragraphs and more importantly you listen to her music. Why? Here is a beginning of explanation…
I can’t remember exactly how and when I discovered the incredible Sandra Nkaké, but she is one of those artists I feel like I have known forever. She exudes such an energy and has such a character that makes you think she could be a friend or even a family member. She is strong, proud, bold and beautiful. I may also feel a connection with her because she was a fellow English student. In any case, she is a wonderfully talented woman you need to discover if you have never heard of her before.
She has an incredible presence, a mixture of strength and sensitivity, and she definitely knows how to touch you with her words. She expresses her thoughts and feeling beautifully and poetically but at the same time with a sort of bluntness that can’t left you unmoved. Mother, lover, daughter, she is, like many women, a multi-faceted individual who infuses her music with all the different sides of her personality, her qualities and weaknesses, all the while being very honest and at times “raw”.
What makes her stand out, apart from her charisma and the great quality of her lyrics, is her warm, deep and powerful voice. This voice carries her story, but also that of her ancestors. Sandra Nkaké is the representative of both Cameroonian and French legacies and she weaves her music with all the aspects of those cultures, making it very personal but at the same time universal. There is clearly something spiritual about her art, something that takes you on a journey and makes you reach higher levels of emotion and understanding. I don’t think it is possible to listen to her music and not feel your heart beating faster, as it is quite unlikely you will hear her voice and not feel goose-bumps all over your skin. This is definitely how I feel every time I listen to Mansaadi (“little mother”), her debut album.
This gem contains songs both in French and English and is a testimony of the woman that she is, her experiences of life, love and loss, her darkness and her rays of light. It is deep, sad, inspiring, positive and entertaining. It will bring you to tears and will put a smile on your face. It will make you feel strong and ready to achieve your dreams. Quite simply, it is a ride on the rollercoaster that life is. And if you’re ready for the journey, you will probably not regret jumping on board.
Now, to convince you of the lady’s exceptional talent, I will share with you some videos. If you’re not hooked after that, I’m sorry but I can’t do anything else to help. First, one of my favourite videos from her is a cover of D’angelo’s “Higher”. Taking the classic and making it her own, she gives a beautiful heartfelt rendition of the track and makes it very powerful and emotional.
Then, a very inspiring track and one of my favourites on Mansaadi is the beautiful Stay true. This is really the kind of music you should listen to when you’re feeling down. It will most probably help raise your spirits.
Finally, another one of my favourites is the wonderful I believe. Enjoy!
Now, please go check out the album on iTunes (this is the US site but you should be redirected if you’re living elsewhere). Oh, and spread the word!
Sandra Nkaké is working on her second album, Nothing For Granted, which should come out soon. In the meantime, stay tuned on her website, Facebook & Twitter.
