Goya Gumbani - “Letter to Pooh”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 7

Pairs Well With…MIKE, Denzel Curry, Little Simz

Conversational and introspective, Goya Gumbani takes a uniquely understated approach to his music, stream-of-conscious type flows perfectly complimenting the psychedelic tones of his songs’ beats. Collaborating with innovators like Kiina and Rago Foot on The Lesser-Known and Children of Ra respectively, Gumbani is gifted woozy, jazz-infused rhythms and hooks to speak to. Note how Gumbani allows amble space for his producers, smartly not filling every frame with lyrics and waiting for the right moment to add a verse. The London-via-NYC artist interestingly works around rhythm, not following known hip hop expectations, rather playing behind the beat like a studied R&B musician. His latest is KRYSTIN, a joint project with innovative songwriter Subculture, one that infuses extra psych-pop and electronic R&B layers to a jazz-based backbeat. This spacey, dreamy territory is a perfect spot for Gumbani’s equally hazy performance and an entrancing collection carried by lowest-key tension throughout. (Kevin McStravick)