“Stop looking at her, look at me” – Eora/Sydney-based vocalist, DJ, producer and songwriter Djanaba proudly exhibits every aspect of her bad self with this astonishingly impressive debut LP.
F-bombs abound and Djanaba’s therapist scores a “shoutout” in the presser – Did I Stutter? just makes right now feel better.
The opening Times Like SIS is the type of tune that seeps into your bones even when played quietly in the background. The reverberating, hollow-sounding hook, witty, localised lyrics (“I heard you sold your soul for a pack of Winnie Blues…”) – okay, midway through track one we’re already officially besotted.
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Then fuckitup (“…when a big boy does what a big boy’s gotta”) sashays in like a cheeky conga line, abducting our hips and lifting lip corners. “She likes to move too much…” – no such thing once that piano-house hook sneaks in!
Stutter (feat. Aotearoa-born, Eora-based artist Somber Hills) serves yet another delicious flavour of party jam. It’s giving self-assured, ‘what other people think of me is none of my business’ energy – like rolling into da club with your badass squad, hair-tossing ‘cause you already know you look fire.
“Joke’s on you I’m fine/ You lost your mind…” – F.U.’s clapback will be repeated to the next timewaster that slides into our DMs. And we can just imagine collective rude fingers raised skyward, punctuating each, “FUCK. YOU!” during choruses at future Djanaba gigs.
Doin To Me scales production right back to correctly emphasise Djanaba’s effortless, soaring vocal runs. “I need you to hold my hand while you hold my hair…” – there’s slightly-quivering vulnerability here, yet every texture and vocal nuance is meticulously executed.
“Your friends know I’m a guy you’re sleeping with/ They also know that there’s a couple more/ I lie to you that you’re the only one/ I know that I’m worse and that’s for sure” – CHISEKO’s memorable rap verse during FWU pushes the narrative as we follow the plight of two non-exclusive fuck buddies catching feelings they hesitate to communicate (“Why did it take me this long/ To realise I kinda fuck with you?”).
I’m Ready is dirty, danceable garage with a hedonistic message: “Take off get laid!”
Big Titties (“…keep it litty/ Real men aren’t shitty…”) – Djanaba’s breakout collaboration with PNAU conjures a tropical paradise. This track’s banging house breakdown calls Crystal Waters’ Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) to mind. Every reputable DJ needs this tune.
Resisting those Don’t Really Care hi hi-hats is futile, and we must hear the closing Asikee’s insistent, skittish beat through club-quality speakers pronto!
“I’ll write your goddamn anthem/ Then you can be my fandom…” – too right! We’ll be pulling up to Djanaba’s show at the next available opportunity.
Play it loud and allow Djanaba to guide your dancefloor bliss. Should be huge in Ibiza.
