
Actually, this new single from Nigerian Gospel artist Yoyo Micheal isn't all that different at all. That's one of the great things about Christmas music--it's pretty much universal. For the most part, "Osiwi", which means "Saviour", could just as easily have come from a contemporary performer of spiritual Soul in America. What I really dig about the tune, which begins with a bit of "Joyful Joyful" before taking off, is that you can hear the joy in the performance. It's not just a song Yoyo sings (she wrote it, too, by the way), it's clearly something she feels. And, if the singer legitimately feels the joy they're singing about, the listener can't help but feel it too (go on, Scrooge, give it a spin). Yoyo Micheal has only been recording since 2012 (though she's been singing since she was 8, when she was recruited by an adult choir). Her music has already received numerous awards and accolades in Nigeria (including "Best Gospel" for her 2014 single "Amen"). A part of the DBliss Media stable of artists, she is currently gearing up for her full-length debut. "Osiwi" is available as a free download through Soundcloud, courtesy of DBliss. You can follow Yoyo's career on Facebook.