Joshua Baraka Juvie Album: Exclusive Track By Track Breakdown
Joshua Baraka
Joshua Baraka has rapidly risen to the forefront of East Africa’s music scene. At just 24, the singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has already become one of Uganda’s most successful musicians ever – and he’s now poised to make a global impact. We spoke to Joshua to get an exclusive track-by-track breakdown of his debut album Juvie, executively produced by Grammy Award winning Afro-swing pioneer JAE5. Here, Joshua offers a personal look into the stories, emotions and experiences that have helped shape the project:
1. ‘Normal’ | Prod. Joshua Baraka
“Normal is me thinking out loud and reminding myself who I am and where I have come from. As a Juvie, you feel like you are the biggest thing in the world, and this song captures that mindset and that energy.”
2. ‘Morocco’ | Joshua Baraka, Axon | Prod. AXON
“Morocco carries the same spirit as the intro. It is full of confidence and my view of life right now. I want to see my friends often, spend time with my parents and my girlfriend, secure my money and enjoy the good vibes”
3. ‘Dive In’ | Joshua Baraka, JAE5 | Prod. JAE
“Dive In is about being scared to fall in love but then you find someone worth taking the risk for. It’s about letting go of your past and fear in order to live in the moment. Many people are scared to fall in love or do things that make them happy but sometimes you have to put fears aside and Dive In.”
4. ‘Still Young’ | Joshua Baraka, JAE5 | Prod. JAE5
“Still Young is me reminding myself that I am young. There is a lot of pressure but I am learning to pace myself and do what I can. Working with JAE5 was so inspiring. He produced much of the project and the sessions felt very fluid. The melodies, the drums and the synergy all came together naturally. I believe this is some of my best work.”
5. ‘Interlude 1’ | Prod. Joshua Baraka
“This was recorded when I came back home. The recorder was on while I was vocalising and moving around. It captures me in my natural state, trying to learn ideas and staying sharp. It is simply me existing.”
6. ‘This Time’ | Joshua Baraka, JAE5 | Prod. JAE5
“This Time is about accountability. I know I might repeat some of the same mistakes but I am honest about it. For all the Juvies, the message is that good things come and go. I am letting the girl know I’m trying and I can only learn from my mistakes but it’s not promised I won’t repeat them.”
7. ‘State Of My Heart ‘| Joshua Baraka, BIEN | Prod. Jstrings and KC
“State Of My Heart is a love song about me kicking a game to a girl who I feel has taken over my heart. It is one of the best written songs on the project. BIEN is the only collaboration on the album. He is one of my biggest mentors and someone who has done a lot for East Africa. The song was supposed to be just me but he fit perfectly.”
8. ‘Wrong Places’ | Joshua Baraka, JAE5 | Prod. JAE5
“Wrong Places is about loving someone who keeps looking for love in the wrong places. You see the harm it is doing and you try to be there for them but you also know the situation isn’t good for them.”
9. ‘Sorry’ | Prod. Joshua Baraka
“Sorry is me admitting that I really like this person but I do not feel like I am the man they deserve at the moment. It’s reggae sound is inspired by artists Bob Marley, Chronixx and other reggae artists I grew up listening to. I produced the entire track myself.”
10. ‘Corner’ | Prod. Tayo and GG
“Corner is a reimagined love song written like a letter. I am asking my person to meet me in the corner, our little spot. It’s pure Juvie energy.”
11. ‘Interlude 2’ | Prod. Joshua Baraka
“My mom came to visit me and spent time with my friends. I needed her presence. She spoke about life and the importance of enjoying it and being present. I asked her to repeat what she said on the mic. She asked me a question that stayed with me: “Are you living or are you just alive?”
12. ‘So Low’ | Joshua Baraka and The Compozers | Prod. Nana (The Compozers)
“So Low is about the life of a young adult. Weekdays, nine to five, weekends chilling with the mandem. It is about existing in a world full of overstimulation and dealing with highs and lows. It is me talking about how I move through it all. The session was full of friends and good and high energy, which you can feel in the song.”