When Nyashinski steps into a room, there’s always an aura that precedes him, the kind that only a seasoned artiste who has lived, left, and returned to music with unmatched force can command.
For years, he has been the enigma of Kenyan music, able to disappear for months and re-emerge with songs that immediately grip the public.
His latest work, Yariasu, in his own words, is “an African album, an international kind of album at the same time.”
“I worked on it for around eight months,” he says. “I wrote it myself, but of course, I’ve had help from different people, but at the same time, I’m excited for the whole world to hear it.”
The wait has been long. Fans have been relentless in their demands, always asking when the next Nyashinski project would be released.
“It has been a while, my fans have been pressuring me, but now I can tell them to just breathe.”
The title itself, Yariasu, is as intriguing as the man who coined it. “I want you to remember it just the same way you can relate to Monalisa, the painting,” he says.
It’s not a common name, nor does it need to be. Like his music, it’s unique, carved out from his own creative space and destined to leave a mark.
Behind the layered production and melodies of Yariasu is a process rooted in freedom. For Nyashinski, writing this album meant stepping into a new territory.
“I felt like I needed to tap into a different space that I was not into yet,” he says.
“So I was very free when writing this album. I was not over-criticising myself, I just wanted to be free and let that creative spirit flow through me because I feel like, as musicians, we are just vessels.”
For him, the magic of music lies in honesty. It’s a principle that has guided him throughout his career and one that remains intact.
“I never really do any song just for the sake of doing it. I don’t do music with ulterior motives; I do music because I love it. I love experimenting with sounds, words, and melodies, and I love the feeling that my lyrics and melodies get different. That is honestly why I do this.”
Then, almost as if addressing his fans directly, he adds: “If I feel that I am not doing that for you, then it’s time for me to stop singing.”
It’s been a while since Nyashinski released a body of work, and he acknowledges that the journey has been reflective.
Yariasu is more than just a collection of songs; it’s a mirror of his experiences and his worldview. “It is a very honest album,” he says.
“It talks about how people love you some days, but they may not love you forever. I am just a product of my parents’ prayers, being surrounded by people who love me and care about me and care about my success. It’s not just about me; it’s also about the people who surround me and have sacrificed for me, especially the things that I don’t see. I am just grateful. It’s all about teamwork.”
Asked about the main message of the album, he pauses before answering. For him, Yariasu doesn’t boil down to a single theme. “I don’t know if I have like a main message because I touch on different topics in the album,” he says.
“I think boldness. Let’s be bold like I am going ahead of you and probably because that’s my role, going ahead of you and trying different things that you would probably be afraid to try.”
It’s advice that he hopes resonates not just with his fans, but especially with younger musicians.
Nyashinski knows that his music is part of a larger continental movement. African sounds are breaking global boundaries, and he believes the moment has never been better.
“I think it’s good that Africa generally is getting a platform and has the world’s ear right now,” he says with quiet conviction. “We are well represented. I feel like East Africa has something to say; we have a lot of talent, and I am excited about the prospects.”
As he prepares to take this album to the world, Nyashinski is still, at heart, the same artiste who values integrity over hype. “Some people judge us by the song we sing and the results,” he says, “but I judge just purely based on: am I being honest, giving that 100 per cent? If the answer is yes, then I’m comfortable releasing it.”
As he rolls out Yariasu, Nyashinski’s partnership with Johnnie Walker as a brand ambassador has given his music an even bigger stage. The synergy feels natural his bold, experimental approach to sound mirrors the whisky brand’s long-running “Keep Walking” ethos.
For an artiste who thrives on pushing boundaries and reinventing himself, it’s a partnership that amplifies his voice without dimming his authenticity.