Blog Post
AfroDiziac - 'Shine'
Reviewed by Laura DQ • 6 March 2025
Often, an artist’s look tells you something about how they might sound. Not so for virtuoso guitarist AfroDiziac, whose snazzy threads and impressive hair suggest he might be a purveyor of retro, psychedelic sounds. But in reality, new single ‘Shine’ has more in common with grunge, favouring the soft loud soft dynamics that Nirvana made into an art form.
It’s an art that remains effective, the vulnerability of AfroDiziac’s vocal as the track begins in contrast with the wallop of drums and aggressive distorted guitar that follows. The chorus benefits from a familiar lyric, almost identical to the well-known “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine”, albeit delivered with more snarling defiance than I recall from when it featured in school assemblies!
AfroDiziac’s vocal performance is as passionate and engaging as his guitar playing, which is pleasingly powerful without being unnecessarily flashy. There’s a wonderful moment where the noise drops away, leaving the throb of bass exposed before the track builds back to a crescendo, ultimately taking us back to where we started, giving the track a pleasing, cyclical quality.
The wait for debut album ‘Vanity Affair’ continues, but on the strength of ‘Shine’, there is much to look forward to. A powerful track with an even more powerful message; a reminder of the strength it takes to defy expectations and to allow your true self to ‘Shine’.
Listen to the single from Friday 7th March.