Ugandan musician A Pass, born Alexander Bagonza, recently dropped his latest album ‘BAGONZA,’ available for streaming and download across major digital platforms. This marks a decade in the industry for the versatile artist, who is a singer, songwriter, and producer.
The album, comprising 42 tracks, delves into diverse aspects of love, including unrequited love, lust, infatuation, and various emotions like regret and self-belief. A Pass showcased the album at a listening party on January 30 at The Villa in Bukoto, attended by media personalities, fans, fellow artists, and producers.
‘BAGONZA’ is a reflection of A Pass’s authenticity and is inspired by the powerful theme of love. Initially conceived as a bedroom album, it evolved into a broader exploration of love’s facets.
The project faced challenges, with a total of 100 recorded songs, later narrowed down to 42. Noteworthy tracks include ‘LIKE RONALDO,’ expressing admiration for the hard work of the former Real Madrid striker, and ‘TRUE STORY,’ narrating a brief, impactful relationship.
Another standout is ‘TURN ME ON’ or “DAD’s SONG,” recorded during a vulnerable time when A Pass’s father was hospitalized. ‘BAD AND BAD’ was created right after his sister and manager’s wedding, and ‘I WISH’ reflects on regret in relationships.
Collaborations like ‘TOUCH YOU DOWN’ with Ceee and ‘I SEE YOU’ with Akeine bring a unique flavor to the album. ‘MY DREAM’ explores unrequited love, akin to ‘NKAABA’ from AFRICAN YAYo.
‘NAKUPENDA,’ meaning ‘I Love You’ in Swahili, is the oldest track on the album, initially intended for A Pass’s first album in 2016. The artist emphasized the importance of releasing quality, timeless music.
Acknowledging the album’s extensive production, A Pass credited Baru Beatz and visual artist Hatmax, encouraging fellow artists to embrace digital art for album covers. The listening party concluded with an auction of past album artwork and a performance with the JANZI BAND.
‘BAGONZA’ is now available for listening.