Words by Bolu Famodun
With the release of their first song, Broad, Semz & Zino are setting themselves for greatness.
Last week, Semz & Zino, the new up-and-coming music duo from West London, released their new single, Broads. It’s good. In short, it’s good. Really, really good. I could end this review here, but then you’d miss out on their story, their genius, and why I think they’re the best-kept secret in music. It’s important to note, though, that they’ve been around for a few years: their music career began in 2018, with two singles – ‘Wake Up‘ and ‘Sweetest One‘ – earning them their first loyal fans, including me. And not to brag, right, but we attended the same university together, where I witnessed their brilliance first-hand. Their songs, like Sweetest One, were campus favourites – and their aura, ridiculously infectious.
With Broads, you’re taken back to the olden, golden ages of RnB, where Usher charmed audiences and Lauryn Hill was (and still is) a cultural phenomenon. For a pair of new-ish artists, that is pretty high praise. It’s not all old school, though: with a modern beat and tempo, few – if any – can resist the urge to sing and dance along. The beat, produced by YJ, reminded me of my GSCE music days when learning about genres and specific types of beats were all I cared about; and in truth, combining different genres – pop, melody, RnB – isn’t exactly easy. But somehow, they pull it off.
In this day and age, resisting the temptation to be too rigid or to be too experimental is a hard job for an artist; it’s a job they manage to pull off with relative ease. As a music enthusiast, I can sometimes fall into the trap of describing music romantically, using words and descriptions few can understand or relate to. So, if my analysis thus far hasn’t struck a chord, or if old school RnB is greek to you, then hear this: it’s good music. Really good music.
That good music, in addition to what seems like a unique talent for harmonies, (like seriously, listen to them) makes them an impressive duo – and more importantly, it makes them serious artists. Artists with their own identities, with God-gifted talent, and an eye for melodies, sounds and music that works. Not since the music of the 90s legends have I heard such good harmonies from duos. And last I checked most of us – their fans – weren’t even born then
In Britain, soulful music duos aren’t really a thing. Semz & Zino offer something different, a fresh take on a classic genre – a chance for all of us fall reminisce the joys of old, soulful sounds, whilst looking ahead to where music is going, and what it ought to be.
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