by Phil Chard

I decided to title my new project Y, Songs About You after going through some extensive soul searching. I was born in the early 90’s, so I identify best with “Generation Y”. For a while, I was in a space where I was trying to figure out why my first project did not do as well as I’d hoped and what direction I was going to take as an artist. My intention was to write stories from the perspectives of other people. I believed that if I sought to first understand others, I will learn how to make them understand me. So I started with the generation I best identify with - Generation Y, the 90’s kids. The more I wrote the verses for these songs, the more I understood about my myself - why I was making music and the legacy I would like to leave behind.

Zimbabwean born, Toronto based artist EyeAmI (formerly known as Lewis The Artist) has just release his new 5 track EP title Y, Song About You. The project is a brief glimpse into the EyeAmI’s growth as an artist and his currently mentality. When comparing it to his last release Far From Home I noticed how his sound, delivery, and even rapping voice have changed as Lewis becomes more ingratiated in the culture of his newly adopted home.

Upon first listen I struggled to find the anchor of this project and EyeAmI as the reborn artist that he is. But on second listen, once I began to notice the small touches and the fusion of “African” sounds and those of his new home, Toronto shine through. The drums on Uber and Africa. Far From Home, the Afrobeat like Saxophone on Wagadugu and the small inflections and adlibs peppered on the songs all point to this growth. Lewis also credits this melting pot of sounds to a new genre that he hopes to pioneer called AfroBounce.

I am not particularly fond the of flow and delivery adopted by Eye on the project’s first two tracks, I have always felt that he would be better served as a rapper adopting a slower and more deliberate cadence. On Wagadugu (not the capital of Burkina Faso, the word seems to be euphemism for sex) which was actually originally a song I had sent to EyeAmI two years ago for this blog’s project with Rymez. Since then Eye has reworked the song and added that distinct saxophone to the beat.

It is the LP’s third song – Uber ,that I truly feel EyeAmI hits a home run. I have never been the biggest fan of rappers with limited vocal ranges attempting to sing. Especially the type of singing spearheaded by a certain rapper who also hails from Toronto, but it is on song where Eye truly shines. From the catchy and repetitive hook filled with emotion as his voice cracks and breaks to emphasize his words, to the excellent production and the perfect backing vocals from Sydne Barnes.

Y, Songs about you COVERThe song Mary which has also been a long time in the making, (I received rough draft of this track about a year ago) tells an abstract tale that likens the experiences of a promiscuous woman to marijuana over a chopped and screwed beat meant to signify the state of being high which switches as Eye’s lyrics become more “conscious”.

The closing track Africa. Far From Home is another great piece of production that features a marriage bongo and electronic drums with chants and passionate lyrics from EyeAmI

"Whats a child without a family to go and love him, what's a soldier without an army to go and cover for him?”

With Y, Songs About You I feel that EyeAmI is still finding his musical identity. The time and effort that went into a 5 track offering is evidence of that. There is certainly a great deal of potential in him as an artist, provided he sticks to his strengths and addresses up his weaknesses ad song writer. Sonically I can see where he is going and the sound of Afrobounce looks and sounds promising,.