A breath of fresh air

A lot of people seem to have forgotten that after all has been said and done, a singer has to be able to grab the mic and take control. With that said, tjil is proud to introduce to you one such artist who has managed to master any performance or recording session with ease. Meet the unapologetic, raw talent that is Samuel Shines. Giving himself a name that would lead to his success being celebrated, Samuel Shines is working hard to put himself and Namibia on the map. Having performed at countless corporate gigs, his talent has definitely opened multiple doors for this singer. His debut album titled 'I Am A Winner' will be released on Thursday, 31 October and will be available for purchase at Antonio's Art. It will also be available digitally on iTunes. Shines disclosed that plans are also at an advanced stage to secure places he can sell the album in the north and at the coast. “This album comprises of sounds inspired by the western culture but with a solid African background, executed in a fashionable manner, which creates a perfect tune for all generations,” he said. . The singer was born in Tsumeb and later moved to Omuthiya, a small and fast-growing town in the northern part of Namibia. He lived in Omuthiya for a few years before leaving the country to the United States of America.In an interview with tjil, the self-taught pianist, guitarist, songwriter, producer and singer mentioned that he has always had a strong passion for music since his childhood. He added that it took him a long time to finally share his first album because he believes there is power in timing and anticipation. Shines believes that knowing something doesn't mean that is the right time to go for it. A lot of time, many fail because of poor timing. Sometimes we do not know when the right time is and sometimes when the right time comes we do not know whether that is the right time.“I have been doing this for a very long time and even though practically I have been ready to share an album I first had to understand the market. It is a matter of timing. Understanding what you want, when you want it and 2019 is the year for Shines to shine,” he said. On the importance of understanding music, Shines mentioned that as an artist, before one shares their artistry it is important to understand where it is coming from and to understand the impact it leaves on people. He stressed that musicians need to understand the culture of music. “Even though you may not understand music theory you need to at least understand what a chord is, what progression is and what creates the feel in music. When you understand that then you can actually make music that can speak to the soul,” said Shines. Shines describes music as an illusion – something that doesn't really say much but it touches people's emotions.“When you understand the elements of music you understand the techniques involved and you are likely to win a lot of hearts just by the virtue of understanding what a chord and progression is.”Speaking on his sound, Shines shared that he was inspired by John Legend and Boys II Men and used to make that kind of music. He said he decided to make the tempo of his music faster compared to his idols because in Africa people love dance and rhythm. His music is a montage of R&B and Afro-pop. “This is Africa. As much as people would love to take in the message they would also have to move along, so I kept the contemporary R&B but just switched the tempo. “I would say I am an R&B artist who just embraced the African sounds and came up with something that a lot of people have probably never heard before but they are likely to categorise it as Afro-pop,” explained Shines.MICHAEL KAYUNDE

A breath of fresh air

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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A breath of fresh air

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-05

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