It is particularly appealing to hear a singer-songwriter with the ability to effortlessly switch their lyrics between various languages while retaining the rhythmic flow of the music.
Okello Max has earned critical acclaim among a new generation of Kenyan artistes, by establishing a style that combines the authenticity of cultural rhythms with contemporary global musical influences.
Early this month he released his eagerly anticipated sophomore album, Healing, a project whose inspiration and sheer scale is an affirmation of Okello’s personality, and his musical journey.
“I would say taking the risk to do something outside the norm,” he told the BDLife this week. “People know Okello Max as the guy who sings rumba but if you sample the album, you will see that I am trying different sounds, getting out of my comfort zone and embracing styles that resonate with an international market.”
The 15 songs on the album took three years to write and produce and sonically it ranges from Afropop to R&B, Rumba to Rap, and Latin-flavoured salsa rhythms. There are sparkling shades of traditional music bringing life to the fusion of sounds and Okello mastery of the nuances of Luo harmonies is captivating.
Musician Okello Max performing at The Fisherman’s Experience held at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on May 31, 2025.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Okello is part of the Kodong Klan, a collective of artistes comprising some of Kenya’s top contemporary singers-songwriter producers, including Charisma, Watendawili, Bensoul, and Coster Ojwang, who contributed to the album, either as songwriters or collaborators on the recordings.
The album starts with the title track, a reflective song co-written by Okello and Coster Ojwang, about overcoming stress and as with most of the songs by Okello, the lyrics switch from English to Swahili and Dholuo. Demons In My Head is an Afrobeats-type rhythm and Time Travel is a smooth R&B groove with very sensual undertones.
The album’s most streamed song at the moment, Taya, is an infectious groove with traces of Tanzanian Bongo Flava, and Caribbean Zouk, with Okello at his vocal best.
Healing is packed with collaborations. The highly rated singer African Vic adds his soulful vocals to Colorblind while the delightful Latin sound on Baila Conmigo features Tanzanian-Congolese singer Christian Bella. International Foreigner is a collaboration with fellow Kodong Klan member, Ywaya Tajiri, who is also part of the group Watendawili.
Rapper Breeder LW blesses Call Police with his clever word play and No Other, a smooth track with a catchy chorus features the duo of V-Be (Vijana Barubaru). There are influences of amapiano on the danceable Hakuna Matata with guest vocals by Watendawili, and if you are looking for a club banger, then skip to Confuse Me as Mordecai Dex of H-art the Band turns on the energy.
“Every writer, every collaborator brings their A game to the album and they elevate my music,” explains Okello. “Every artiste has their unique skills set, so when you collaborate with the best talents, then you naturally end up with a high-quality product.”
There is fusion of traditional and rap with a sweet orutu opening of Joluo Malo while Chop Life is a feel-good tune spiced with an earworm guitar riff about “eating life with a big spoon”. “The objective is to show the diversity of the instruments in Luo music - the nyatiti, the orutu, the ohangla drums - and we have to make the world aware of our rich culture,” says Okello.
The album closes on a high note with Bosslady, a groove co-written by renowned guitarist Benjamin Kabaseke, that segues from mid-tempo Afropop into a rumba climax (sebene).
He recorded a cover version of the classic Ndaya by Congolese icon, Mpongo Love, with Savara Mudigi, of Sauti Sol fame, but the track didn’t make it to the album because of a delay in acquiring the clearance from the rights holders. However, it will be released as a single once the licensing formalities are complete.
Born in Kisumu County in 1991, Julius Mcrymboh Okello, was introduced to signing in the choir by one of his uncles. He spent his childhood in Lamu, where he was exposed to taarab and rumba.
Singer-songwriter Okello Max performs at the Outside Hangout event held at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on December 21, 2024.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
When he was admitted to Moi University, Eldoret to study Communication, he also joined the university band and polished his performance, vocal ability, songwriting and guitar playing. He first met Bien Aime Baraza, when Sauti Sol was performing in Kisumu during the Live and Die in Afrika tour in 2016.
His big break came when he sang background vocals on Sauti Sol/Sol Generation’s 2019 hit song Extravaganza featuring Sol Generation and the following year was featured on the hit song Rumba Japani on the Midnight Train album.
Okello’s debut album Boss was released in 2022 contained collaborations with heavy hitters like Suzanna Owiyo, Bien, Femi One, Bensoul, and Charisma and won him acclaim for adding a cultural twist to rumba.
“There will only be one Okello Max,” he affirms. “If I sing ohangla today, if I sing rumba tomorrow, or R&B, there will always be the Okello Max’s touch. No matter the sound, I bring my own flavour.”
True to its title his new album is a musically healing experience and holds the potential to catapult him into a Pan-African star like his mentor, Bien. The album Healing by Okello Max is available across all digital streaming platforms.
