When Cathy Matete Covers Anita Baker, Magic Happens
Her latest offering – a reggae-infused take on Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" fits just right, feels familiar, yet somehow becomes entirely her own.
- Staff Writer
You know that feeling when you're waiting for your tree to bring back a seasonal special?
That's what it's like being a Cathy Matete fan. The Kenyan songstress takes her time between releases, but when she blossoms, she bears sweet fruit.
Her latest offering – a reggae-infused take on Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" fits just right, feels familiar, yet somehow becomes entirely her own. she's taken a classic and draped it in new clothes that feel like they were always meant to be there.
Working with Brazilian-born, Atlanta-based producer Rafael Labate (Raflabs Studio), Matete hasn't just covered Baker's song – she's had a conversation with it.
Her rich vocals settle into the melody like honey in warm tea, while the reggae arrangement wraps around the original's soul like a soft blanket on a cool evening.
What's remarkable here isn't just the technical execution – it's how comfortable it all feels.
Matete navigates this reimagining with the ease of someone walking through their own garden. She knows every corner, every shade, every bloom, yet still manages to make us see it all with fresh eyes.
The result?
A version that doesn't try to outshine Baker's original but instead stands beside it, offering a different kind of warmth.
It's like when you hear two good friends laugh together – neither laugh diminishes the other, they just create something beautiful together.
For those of us who wait patiently between Matete's releases, this cover reminds us why we don't mind the wait. Some artists don't need to flood the market – they just need to show up at exactly the right moment with exactly the right note.
