Mary Mkavita, one of Kenya’s most promising songstresses, has once again captured the attention of music lovers with the release of her new single, Falling, a captivating track that delves deep into the tender emotions of infatuation. Collaborating with Gocho Max and Icon X Music Ke, Mkavita delivers a soulful and heartfelt performance that speaks to the delicate feelings we experience when we have a crush on someone. Falling is the latest single from her debut EP, Shadows, which explores love in all its complexities and forms.
Falling offers an intimate glimpse into the first stages of attraction the butterflies, the excitement, and the longing that comes with a newfound crush. The song’s dreamy melody is as enchanting as its lyrics, blending perfectly to create a sense of floating and, as the title suggests, falling deeper into those feelings of affection.
The inspiration for Falling came to Mkavita during an unexpected moment while she was practicing the chromatic scale. She recalls how the scale seemed to mimic the feeling of something in free fall, which eventually shaped the melody of the song’s chorus. “I felt that it gave the effect of something falling, which fit perfectly with the emotions I wanted to convey,” she explains. This serendipitous moment became the foundation of the song’s signature sound. The bridge and first verse, however, were influenced by a live concert she attended, where a saxophonist she deeply admires performed, further fueling her creative process.
Mary Mkavita’s musical prowess extends beyond just her vocal abilities. She is also a skilled alto saxophonist and Chivoti player, a traditional flute from the Digo people of Kenya’s coastal region. Her versatility as an instrumentalist allows her to experiment with different sounds and styles, adding layers of richness to her compositions.
Beyond her captivating music, Mkavita is a unique voice in Kenya’s music scene both as a creative and a thinker. She identifies as a dyslexic thinker and believes deeply in the transformative power of music therapy. For Mkavita, music is not just an art form, but a tool for healing and social change. “I use music as my voice to be the change I want to see,” she says. This ethos is woven throughout her work, from her lyrics to her performances.
Since her debut in 2021, Mkavita has continued to build an impressive music catalog, which includes songs such as Love Yourself, Lost (featuring The Revolutionary Spitter), and her Shadows EP. Each release showcases her growth as an artist, and Falling is no exception. As her fanbase grows, so does her influence, and it’s clear that Mkavita is quickly becoming a household name in Kenya’s evolving music landscape.
In addition to her musical prowess, Mkavita is an aspiring event organizer with an impressive track record of organizing concerts. Since 2022, she has hosted three annual music events, each aimed at sharing her love for diverse musical genres with a broader audience. Her first concert, held on July 24, 2022, at the Kenya Conservatoire of Music, was a collaboration with her friend Resila Muganda. The event was an eclectic mix of Classical, Pop, and Jazz music, designed to engage Nairobi’s varied music lovers.
Her second concert marked the launch of her debut EP Shadows, where she performed tracks from the EP, including Falling. This event was a celebration of her growth as an artist and a promotional platform for her new music.
Her most recent venture, Jazz Simplified, is a platform she curated to support young, emerging jazz musicians. Through this initiative, Mkavita aims to make jazz music more accessible to the Kenyan audience, envisioning a future where Kenya becomes a hub for jazz. “The vision of Jazz Simplified is to make jazz easier, simpler, and enjoyable for the Kenyan audience,” she explains. This ambitious project is already gaining traction, and Mkavita’s passion for fostering a jazz community is evident.
As she continues to release more music and organize events that bring the Kenyan music community together, the future looks bright for Mkavita. Falling is a reminder that her artistic vision goes beyond just creating beautiful melodies it’s about telling stories that resonate with listeners and using music as a tool to connect, heal, and inspire. Whether through her solo work, her collaborations, or her efforts to foster a new generation of jazz musicians, Mary Mkavita is carving out a space for herself in Kenya’s music industry.
