NAMULI

Her name alone sounds musical — a siren call that absolutely makes you want to hear more. Unlike in the epic poem The Odyssey, however, there's nothing to fear and everything to celebrate about life when listening to Namuli. With debut album Tell Them, the enchanting singer-songwriter opens the door to an immersive, empowering journey through — in her words — "a magnetic collision of rhythm, melody and emotion."

Released independently via Atlas Gold Music, Tell Them marries Namuli's American and Ugandan roots with a savory blend of Afropop, hip-hop, R&B and pop. That fusion is then coupled with soul-baring lyrics channeled through hypnotic vocals. The result is a tuneful, 80-minute adventure encompassing passion, freedom, heartbreak, love, ambition and self-discovery through songs crafted to move both the body and the spirit.

Setting that tone for the 22-song album is title track "Tell Them." Its engaging, mid-tempo groove perfectly underscores the song's self-discovery theme as Namuli's silky, soaring vocals embrace a heartfelt declaration: "Tell them I'm still standing / Tell them I'm still shining / This is my moment / I was born for this / My time has come / I'm second to none."

Namuli's innate talent for penning personal yet relatable lyrics and infectious hooks shine throughout the project. Additional standouts include "Rivers of Tears," "Better Put Up" and "Revelation." Previewed earlier this year, the lilting ballad "Revelation" delves into self-identity. "I always try to write relatable music," says Namuli. "Revelation is an organic song about seeing yourself for who you are, who you've always been."

With its syncopated rhythms, the vibrant "Better Put Up" finds Namuli drawing a line in the sand for her big-talking romantic partner. The song's catchy hook doubles as a cheeky ultimatum: "You better put up if you wanna pull up." Overcoming life's challenges stands at the heart of "Rivers of Tears." The mid-tempo's core message is delivered in this one verse: "Rivers of tears couldn't hold me down / I hear tomorrow calling now."

As she notes in "Tell Them," Namuli was indeed born to make music. One of four siblings born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to parents of Ugandan ancestry, Namuli grew up with music and dancing as constants in her life.

"Africans celebrate life," says Namuli. "So at any family gathering, there's music and everybody dances. Rhythm is a natural being that brings joy." Also trickling into the household back then: music by early influences like Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Prince and Whitney Houston.

As an elementary school student, Namuli would "wake up singing before going to school" every morning. She was concurrently introduced to gospel music through an outside youth program conducted by a Black teacher who played a pivotal role in her life. "The next thing you know, she has me doing solos for church and plays. That opened up a whole new world for me," Namuli recalls. "So now I'm feeling music on a completely different level." To the point where the precocious Namuli became the leader of a girl group created with several friends.

Along the way, she broadened her musical diaspora by learning to play the viola and later joining the Albuquerque Junior Orchestra. In high school, the raw emotion of lyrical rap and the polished energy of mainstream pop and R&B inspired by Missy Elliott, Lauren Hill, Miriam Makeba, Celine Dion and songwriter Diane Warren further guided the bridge connecting her African heritage to her American upbringing. That period also brought more singing opportunities at school functions plus her first foray into songwriting. An eventual move to join a sister living in Los Angeles found Namuli doing some modeling while steadily pursuing gigs as a backing vocalist on recording sessions, commercials and demos for other artists.

While sharpening her songwriting skills at L.A.'s Musicians Institute, the urge to record her own demo took hold. Mutual friends suggested that Namuli meet Nii, a staff songwriter who was looking for background singers. "Other people kept trying to put me in a box," says Namuli, "and that wasn't where I wanted to go. No one knew the African side of me."

Working with Nii — her future husband — is what made her finally "come to life," says Namuli. "It was the best blend because he's Ghanaian and brought out what was missing; what was in my head. Like if I was doing a ballad, I still wanted African drums in there. But it was hard to explain that to somebody who doesn't come from that part of the world. He and I ended up collaborating on a lot of songs and from there, everything just took off."

Recording sessions at Miami's Hit Factory yielded two singles released on iTunes — that began generating buzz. Then life took over. Between the death of a beloved relative and two miscarriages, Namuli stepped back from music though she kept journaling her feelings.

Now mother to a son, Namuli is stepping forward again having woven those feelings into her own soundtrack of life, Tell Them. "My wanting to sing was never about becoming famous," she says. "I just want to connect with people, making sure my music has a pulse whether it's a ballad or more energetic. That following a bad day, people feel lighter after listening to one of my songs."

Bold, stylish and impossible to box in, Namuli represents a new generation of globally influenced artists redefining contemporary pop music. So no more hesitation. It's time to join the growing movement — and heed the siren call of Namuli's vibe.