By Tawanda Chari
Believe most people had a “what’s-up-with-this-title” moment. Especially if one has an appreciation of or proclivities towards allegiance to the Christian faith. Perhaps more than that. People gather different things/opinions on the same subject matter. Which is what great lyricists fearlessly deliver.
Luminous invites one to think. And that’s just by reading the title. It is the equivalent of throwing a question to the room' and letting people discuss.
Sex-and-Gospel isn't something you hear everyday if at all. There are things people just normally don't say.
We're never given a reason, a non ridiculous one at least as to why not. That's after the look when one says it.
Love, Sex, & The Gospel is a metonym and a metaphor. It's also a group conversation. Metaphoric in the sense that Luminous is not giving an opinion or his direct point of view. He submits a subject, lets it hang and invites the group to discuss. And that's how the EP begins.
Beauty is a conversation. And also metonymic. People born in different parts of the world, from different generations, raised by different people who held different values, in different cultures, learn very different things will have different view points on life.
That's the point of the song although Luminous used Beauty to illustrate that point. Everyone has their own unique definition of beauty.
What seems crazy to you might make perfect sense to someone else. Because of different experiences people objectified beauty (and also everything else) so that whatever they believe is beauty is right, they own it and anything outside their parameters isn't and everyone else needs validation from them because they are self proclaimed powers that be.
Isitho, the second track, is really a question. An uncomfortable one too.
Have you ever been used as an object?
It seems like an extension of Beauty, the first track. Beauty isn't a song, so perhaps he felt compelled to add more context. This time the metaphor he used to invite people to think is 'sex'.
We can remove sex and replace it with money,fame, drugs, entertainment or whatever and we would still have the same conversation but with different implications to our society.
Then comes 'Addiction'; another layer of his metonymic story telling. Luminous examines human affliction with love.
Remember he started the EP with objectification of everything. At this point of the story, we have objectified Beauty and used someone for sex. Now we're addicted but we find that we need more than just using someone for sex.
But it's still not just sex.
Nguwe, track number 4 is a deeply in love story. Definitely one to play for your other half. Or dedicate to your crush. But only if it's stripped away from the whole project. As part of the multi layered discourse on Love, Sex, & The Gospel then it's the 'Love' part of the title.
Being deeply in love with someone/something is a good feeling only and only if the the right person or object. Fun and also highly recommended because people really should enjoy life more.
But you can also be deeply in love (or Addicted) to the wrong person/people or object(s). The implications of both situations is left out to the individual listener to imagine. Usually, bad addictions end in tears.
And that's why Nkelo, track five, is just a projection of pain. Feels like the expression of the song could have been a little more emotional than it is. It might have had more punch to the story in terms of highlighting emotions and making people feel.
After surviving pain, perhaps even depression or anxiety, what comes next is accepting you screwed up and then forgive yourself. If you can, at least. That's track six, Ungangisoli.
It's an apology.
He used a relationship situation to express a lot of different subjects that may have similar implications to both individuals and also societies. Referenced every controversial story that happened in the last year or two. Including the never ending 'men are trash' mantra.
It could also may be apologizing to other people one might have ruined. Great thing about great lyricists is you can take subjects several different ways. Which is how the EP is conceptualized anyway.
The Conclusion: Letter To My Wife Pt. II
Can only assume there is a first but this is probably the only track that Luminous showed himself a little more. Yes, the EP may have been inspired by his life experiences but that wasn't obviously apparent.
This is the 'Gospel' part of the the project. What better way to change as a person than faith and rethinking belief systems.
For Luminous it's turning to God it seems. In a world where people struggle with existential crises, Luminous can celebrate finding his purpose or Faith.
What stands out from this EP is Luminous using his gift to tell a story that serves to remind people there is more than what meets the eye.
Our actions have ripple effects and that we should build more than we destroy.
It seems no matter which lane each individual's story takes, whether you're good person or not, it all leads to God as the ultimate stopping point. It seems that's his angle.
The production is top notch as is his ability to rap which is not mentioned at all as well as the incredible collaborations in the project. Love, Sex, & The Gospel should be studied and should have been an album.
You can stream/download/buy the EP Love, Sex & The Gospel (it also comes with a book; the artist's debut book) by visiting his website via this link - https://meetluminous.com/home and tell us what you think.
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