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Read "GRADUATION" album review by Ockley (R&B From A Wider Perspective)

Listen to GRADUATION album by Ockley

In this new era it feels as if there’s no solid boundaries anymore. In many aspects, that can be a good thing, at the same time it can leave the landscape feeling rather confusing. In music for instance, our entire generation has come up hearing certain genres and recognizing them right away whereas now, the artists are willing to experiment with their sound. As a result many acts we consider rap actually sound like a fusion of 70’s rock, soul and pieces of neo soul. While risky, it does open the doors for something new, but it begs the question, what defines R&B these days?

I grew up listening to groups from the 1950’s all the way up to the 90’s and fell in love with the music and how it had evolved. Each decade building upon the foundation the previous generation paved for it to thrive and change with the times. I’d be lying if I said I knew which R&B acts stand out today because at this point every genre, from hip hop to country seems to borrow from one another leaving only the artist interchangeable, the songs themselves sound very similar to me. Over the last few years there’s been acts who have carried the R&B mantle for only for a short time. While all of them are good in their own right, there seemed to be something lacking when it came to the projects overall connection to the audience. Not saying that there’s any quick answers here, but knowing this leads me to the next step which is digging a little further and seeking the raw vocals I’m looking for to ease this dilemma.

With that being said, I was fortunate enough to come across this album being streamed titled “Graduation” by a singer named Ockley. From the first track, “100 Everyday” his melodic voice comes across with a particular sincerity accompanied by a fierce determination to get his message out with every note. The thing that sets Ockley apart in my mind is, that even though his sounds sound like a throwback to what I feel has been missing, he himself was born in Lusaka, Zambia. Thus the bonus for the listener comes with hearing R&B with an international viewpoint. That is made clear as he sings in what I assume is his native language on the track “Tikondane” and while I don’t know what he’s singing about, I feel that song in a way I can't quite explain. On songs like “Singla Mama” “She Told Me” and “Tikaonana” it’s his story telling ability that I am drawn to. These songs stood out to me because it allowed me to escape and reflect upon my own experiences through his melodies. The go to tracks for me are “Africa” “Time Flies” “Amanda” and “Show Me Some Love” as they all have their own unique sound to them.

What I love about this album is that the content is completely unexpected and at the same time, exactly what R&B needs to energize itself. This is an album that you can just put on ands listen to whether you're heading to the club on a Friday Night or just going for a drive and looking for a soundtrack. If this is a graduation, I’m curious to know what Ockley has in store for the next stage.

Stream & Download "Graduation" album by Ockley on Apple Music & Spotify (((AUDIO)))

Ockley, whose featured on the cover of ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue65, releases new album "Graduation"

PODCAST: Coffee vs. Tea vs. Cocoa vs. Cappuccino by Mistah Wilson

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Mistah Wilson talks about the differences in how hot drinks effect his performance. 

Music by 

Gabriel Teodros "No Label" 00:10 

Bing Bing/PokeyLo "Step One" 03:34 

Ockley "Main One" 11:58

Watch "Medley" music video by Ockley (Controlla, One Dance, Don't, Say It & One Dance)

A cool music video from thawilsonMAG Issue65 Feature Cover Artist, Ockley!

Download "CHIKONDI" by Ockley (((MP3 DOWNLOAD)))

Download "CHIKONDI" by Ockley (((MP3 DOWNLOAD)))

Ockley was featured on the cover issue of ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue65

"Main One" by Ockley (((AUDIO)))

ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue65 (July 2018)

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Featuring the biography of Soul / R&B musician Ockley from Lusaka, Zambia + Mistah Wilson brings thawilsonMAG to YOUTUBE via Supporting Local Artists podcast on WilsonBlock100 Radio + Lena Jackson + Singapore Kane + Helen Keller + Fela Kuti + Mobb Deep & more...

Biography of Ockley from Lusaka, Zambia

Name: Ockley Bwalya Manjoni
Alias: Ockley
Occupation: Songwriter/Musician/Student
Date of Birth: 21 ST November, 1994

Born Bwalya Ockley Manjoni, Ockley is a multi-talented artist whose music dabbles in genres of Soul, R&B, Afropop and Pop. The Lusaka based artist is in his fifth and final year currently pursuing a degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the Copperbelt University, the second largest institution in his country. From a family of seven inclusive of his father and mother, Ockley has four siblings; three sisters and one brother. Being the second born child, Ockley has been labelled and embraced as the musical child.

He started singing at a tender age at events hosted by his school and church. His passion for music grew and at the age of seventeen (16) when he begun to write his own music and grew to write music

for his peers. Between late 2014 and mid-2016, Ockley performed at shows hosted by the Bittersweet Poetry Zambia and events held at his University. Ockley only performed at a few events during this time due to inadequate resources. The inability to be in contact with the organizers of the various events had also negatively affected his progress. However, this did not stop him from continuing to write music.

In August 2016, he began working with a small local band in his neighborhood called 5 Notes. Due to financial challenges faced by the whole team, the band split and died prompting Ockley to go solo again. In November 2016, while at his university, Ockley met the owner of Heart Records (Studio) who was at that time pursuing a diploma in Survey in his third and final year. He was impressed with the qualities Ockley holds as a songwriter and vocalist and signed him as an artist under his studio on a one year contract awarding Ockley the opportunity to have some studio time to his name. 

Between December 2016 and May 2017 Ockley recorded his first cover which received positive reviews from the public, friends and family who demanded his original music. He later featured on three songs of which two of the songs are currently on a Soundcloud, Datafile host, Youtube, as well as playing on local Zambian radio stations such as ZNBC Radio 2 radio Chengelo. In June 2017, Ockley went on to record two of his first songs. His fan base grew as soon as he released his debut single “Main One”. Later he went on to release his second single titled “Tikaonana.” Both singles were debuted on Soundcloud, Audiomack, local blogs and sites, radio stations such as Power FM, Joy FM, ZNBC Radio 2 and 5 FM, Q television, Prime television and ZNBC TV1 in his country.

Though independent today, Ockley is currently working with a record label called Radio Authentic Music on a collaborative basis. The diversity of his music is a result of talent and hard work embedded in him therefore working towards creating and producing quality music keen to the ear and ready to stand the test of time. His self-driven rare style allows him to have a wide range of fans

giving him little or no limitation to the target audience in relation to their age group or the type of event his asked to perform at. His creativity is inborn and is mainly inspired by artists such as Israel, Pompi, AKA, Oliver Mtukudzi, Patoranking, Wiz Kid, Bob Marley, Asa, Seal, John Legend, Kendrick Lamar Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Drake and Hozier, to mention but a few.

As a young growing brand and talent Ockley today continues to work hard and continues to receive overwhelming support from his fans and is dabbed to be the is next big artist ready to go mainstream and take the music industry by storm.

Connect with Ockley

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Audio Mack

ThaWilsonBlock Magazine Issue57 (November 2017)

Exclusive Interviews w/ KStone + Maya Huyana + Antherius & so much more...

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Meet Soul R&B Musician OCKLEY from Lusaka, Zambia

Ockley is an musician born and bred in Zambia. Ockley is a multi talented singer with abilities to do various genres of music. He is a songwriter, entrepreneur, and a student. Officially, he begun his music career in 2016. He has worked with Zambian local artists and written music for some of the uprising stars in his country. He has two debut singles called Main One and Tikaonana (meaning-when we meet). Ockley is ready to take the music industry by storm.