"Music is soul...an expression of the things that cannot be spoken. For me it comes from the heart, and mine has a lot to say. Music has always been my release from the excesses of this life, a safe haven when all else fails. I am Ythera, a lover of all things musical."
Singer-Songwriter Ythera was born September 1st 1992 in Nairobi, to a not-so musical family, but somehow music found a way to warm itself up to her. “From a tender age, I always knew that what I wanted to do was sing and inspire people with my music but I was always too shy to do it. But later in high school, I joined the school choir and from then on I decided that I would not let go of my talent”, she says.
Ythera describes her sound as Soul Afro Funk. Inspired by Afro Fusion, Jazz, R n B, Funk and Neo Soul, Ythera’s eclectic, vocally skillful and soulful, heavy on the bass, groovy sound is a sure way that she has won her audiences hearts all over stages in Nairobi; Having had debut performance at Blankets and Wine in July 2014 and in various forums at her alma mater, United States International University(USIU) and Sauti Academy, Penya Africa's talent development programme.
She aspires to create socially conscious and relatable music, often writing about love, politics and the in-betweens. If she had a slogan it would be "Music with a message." She goes on to say “I want my music to inspire and entertain people, and at the same time carry across a message. I want my music to have a distinguished presence in the Kenyan, as well as the global music scene.”
Ythera released her debut single, Kijana, on Valentines Day eve 2014 off her upcoming album. She features her band in this love ballad that talks about a young lad that has confused all her senses with his mannerisms and charisma. She describes the song as Doo-wop meets Reggae meets Soul. She released her second single, Ahadi Ahadi, in June 2014. The message in the song rings clear, urging politicians to heed to their promises, talk less and do more. Her third single ‘Hot Blooded Man’, a cautionary love tale, was released on Valentine’s Day 2015.
She says “I believe that music is a continuous journey of reinvention and self-discovery; it is a way of expressing my deepest feelings and thoughts to other people. Music makes me happy, and if I am able to share this happiness with others then I am content.”
Contact Ythera via email, ytheramusic@gmail.com, or keep up with her on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram.