The Rhyme Suite

Alternative R&B singer-songwriter Zowie Kengocha reflects on the functions of music, laughter, and community.

Zowie Kengocha (she/they/them) is not the kind of person whose essence could be encapsulated by a single word.

Even when asked to describe herself, the singer-songwriter came up with a state of being rather than a particular word.

“Is there another word for ‘laughing’?” they asked aloud. “I like to laugh at anything and everything. Even in chaos, I try to find something to laugh at because if you don’t laugh, you go crazy.”

I smiled, understanding that “optimistic” or “cheerful” could suffice as a descriptor. But with time, I came to the realization that you really cannot describe Kengocha with a single word. 

The Jersey-born, Nairobi-raised artist is far too radiant for such simplicities, and it shows up in everything from the cadence of their voice to the texture of their music. Kengocha really knows how to make you feel– a trait that could be attributed to being both a Pisces sun and moon. But it really comes down to their dedication to, and appreciation for, music. 

Kengocha’s music fuses alternative R&B with indie-pop, Afrobeats, and hip-hop. The hope is not to be defined by a particular genre, but to inspire those who listen. “I just want to move people with my words and my voice,” the singer told The Rhyme Suite. 

With appearances on both American Idol and A COLORS Show under their belt, the singer has quite the resume at a mere 22 years old. This year alone, Kengocha released “SUMMER BUNNY,” an upbeat Afrobeats song, and “SPIRAL TAPE,” an 8-song EP– all while working to finish a degree in digital marketing.

The singer’s love for music started in her adolescent years, as her father would play his expansive CD collection– which featured artists like Usher, Shania Twain, and Stevie Wonder– every morning on the way to school. 

What started as quick sing-a-longs in the car would turn into leading morning praise at school and posting song covers on YouTube. This would help lead the singer to American Idol, where she would win a golden ticket. While this experience was intimidating, the singer’s biggest takeaway was that doing it scared is often better than doing nothing at all. 

“There’s a reason why God, the universe, puts you there,” Kengocha said. “That means you’re ready for something– you’re ready for a lesson, you’re ready to pursue your dreams. Having that moment made me realize this music thing is what I want to do, that I want to hone in and get better at it.”

Since releasing their first single in 2021, Kengocha has become more comfortable creating and experimenting with music. Their creative process is largely solo, which is the singer’s preferred state of creation. 

“I just love being alone and able to do the wildest things,” Kengocha said. “The melody always comes first for me. It’s like a mumbling thing, and then the words come through.”

Yet, they still acknowledge the importance of community both in and outside of a recording studio. As someone who often uses their platform to shed a light on injustices happening in the world, Kengocha emphasizes the importance of art that reflects the times. 

“I think that’s what makes us human– being able to realize that bad things are happening and to just stand up for it,” they said. “We should be our brother’s keeper. We should be our neighbor’s keeper. We should all take care of each other.”

Kengocha is a firm believer that you can neither separate the art from the artist, nor the artist from the person. Each of these distinct identities exist in unison, epitomizing much more than optimism and cheerfulness. Amongst those traits are fearlessness, creativity, innovation, and ambition. There is no line of distinction.

“Everything that I do, there’s no separation. It’s all me,” the singer posits.

And with a quick listen to any song in their discography, it becomes clear that this is far from DEAD WRONG.