Built For You

by Wanja Wohoro

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about

Built For You was written in 2020 at the height of the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. At the time I was struck by the amount of non-black in my life who seemed to be realising for the first time that racism, misogyny and bigotry were still prevalent everywhere. It infuriated me to realise once again how hidden we are, how the pain of Black and indigenous people is painted over, constantly. I struggled to understand how so many people still hadn’t realised that this system was built this way on purpose, built for them and not for us.

The first part of the song is a message to those who created, run or uphold that system. Those who only perform their 'activism' when it suits them or profits them.

The second refrain is about the converse - being in a space made for us, and by us exclusively. The final outro of the song is a chorus of resistance - choosing life and refusing to drown.

lyrics

Wake
It’s time now don’t be scared
I know you’re unprepared
Shake that pride off it don’t belong here
Neither does your fear

I know you just discovered the world was built for you
Designed to see you through till the end, old in your bed
Comforted by thoughts of all you think you deserve
All you think you earned

Frustration is all I feel I know, I learnt it long ago
Hiding myself from the world, a body that's not my own -
I learnt that long ago

I know you just discovered a world not built for you
Excluding you
Your voice becomes dead, throat turning red; welcome to my point of view
Now please stay mute
Breathe enjoy this view

In this lifetime of mine I would like to live
In this lifetime of mine I would like to live
In this lifetime of mine I would like to live
In this lifetime I would like not to fight just to live

credits

released October 29, 2022
Cello - Violetta Garcia
Percussion - Johanna Amaya
Guitars - Wanja Wohoro
Vocals - Wanja Wohoro
Songwriter/Arranger - Wanja Wohoro
Producer/ Arranger - Rushab Nandha
Co-Producer - Wanja Wohoro

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about

Wanja Wohoro Nairobi, Kenya

Wanja is a singer-songwriter, composer and
multi-instrumentalist from Nairobi, Kenya and Sydney, Australia.

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A dope gold-coloured collaboration between Wanja's indie- soul sound and the eclectic and electric sound of EA Wave. Wanja Wohoro
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