Hill St. Soul - Nasalifya (Thank You).
Label: Shanachie Records.
Format: CD.
In many ways, Hilary Mwelwa is an accidental singer-songwriter. At the time she recorded a demo she was attending London’s Westminster University and studying towards a degree in biological sciences. That demo was the start of a musical career that’s already spanned twenty seven years.
Since 1999, Hil St. Soul has been the stage moniker of Zambian-born, UK-based singer Mwelwa.
The demo resulted in Mwelwa joining forces with songwriter and producer Victor Redwood Sawyer, and the pair used the moniker Hill St. Soul to record their debut album ‘Soul Organic.’
When ‘Soul Organic’ was released to critical acclaim in 2000, it was to widespread critical acclaim. The album was a magical mixture of classic soul, R&B and even smooth jazz. At the end of the year, it was on many critics lists of best albums of the year. Hill St. Soul were hailed as a group with a big future ahead of them.
Soon, Hill St. Soul were leading lights of the UK’s neo-soul scene. In many ways, it was no surprise when Hill St. Soul signed to Shanachie Records. This became their musical home.
In 2002, they released their much-anticipated sophomore album ‘Copasetic and Cool.’ Released to plaudits and praise, it charted in the US R&B charts.
Then in 2006, Hill St. Soul released ‘SOULidified.’ It was their first album of original material. It was well received upon its release.
Two years later, ‘Black Rose’ was released in 2008. It introduced Hill St. Soul’s music to a wider audience, and in 2009, the compilation ‘Release’ was released.
Little did anyone realise it would be thirteen years before Hill St. Soul returned with their fifth studio album in 2022. This was ‘Back In L♥ve.’ Critics hailed the album one of the group’s finest offerings. The group were back with a bang.
Hill St. Soul continued to perform and record, and in 2024 enjoyed one of their biggest hits with ‘Back In Tha Day.’ However, it would be another two years until Hill St. Soul released their much-anticipated sixth album.
This was ‘Nasalifya (Thank You),’ which was recently released on Shanachie Records. It was produced primarily alongside longtime collaborator Regi Myrix. It’s a musical masterclass where sensual neo-soul is combined with British underground grit and classic American urban adult contemporary sensibilities. This proves to be a potent and heady mix.
The album opens with ‘Back In Tha Day’ an immediate dose of nostalgic medicine. This opener acts as an introductory bridge from her early 2000s material to the present day. Built over a warm, looping bassline and crisp boom-bap rimshots, Mwelwa uses her honey-toned mid-range to reminisce about simpler times. It’s an effortless, breezy track that firmly plants the album’s roots in traditional R&B ground.
‘Good Vibes’ proves to be true to its name. Hill St. Soul up the tempo. What follows is a magnificent mid-tempo musical rollercoaster. The production relies heavily on an infectious, syncopated rhythm section and bright Rhodes keyboard accents. It serves as an anthem for emotional boundaries, where Mwelwa's vocals glide over the beat, radiating peace and dismissing negative energy with the cool confidence of a veteran.
‘Better With Time’ is a sweeping, cinematic soul ballad that serves as a vocal standout. Spanning nearly five minutes, the track gives the arrangement room to breathe, slowly layering organic strings and warm bass beneath her. The lyrics explore self-growth and surviving life's unpredictable hurdles, proving that both her artistic perspective and her stunning vocal control have only grown more refined over the last two decades.
‘Vibrate High’ features Lina Loi and brings in a beautiful vocal contrast. This track leans into a slightly more contemporary UK R&B aesthetic, balancing a heavy, sub-driven groove with ethereal background harmonies. The interplay between Mwelwa and Loi is seamless, trading verses that urge the listener to elevate their mindset and keep their frequency high.
‘Can't Get Over You’ leans heavily into a classic nineties-inspired slow jam format. The melody is instantly sticky, capturing the heavy, intoxicating feeling of an unbreakable romantic bond. Mwelwa shifts dynamically from deep, breathless verses to a soaring, Whitney Houston-esque chorus that showcases her upper registry.
On ‘The System Is So Broken’ there’s a shift from personal reflection to social commentary. Set over a gritty, slightly jazz-infused baseline, this track feels urgent and bluesy. It’s a grounded reminder of Hil St. Soul's ability to tackle structural injustice and societal fatigue without sacrificing the smooth, melodic core of her music.
‘With You’ is a tender, acoustic-leaning love letter. Stripping back the heavy percussion, the track relies on intimate guitar plucks and layered vocal harmonies. It’s a softer, vulnerable moment placed precisely in the middle of the album, and highlights her ability to make a simple love song feel deeply personal and lived-in.
‘Trip’ is a head-nodding, slightly psychedelic neo-soul jam. It features a rolling, unhurried bass groove that evokes the classic era of Erykah Badu or Jill Scott. The track plays with space, letting the instruments drop out during key lyrical moments to showcase Mwelwa's impeccable rhythmic timing.
‘I'm Done’ acts as the ultimate "moving-on" anthem, this track provides a sharp, empowering punch near the end of the album. The production is sharp and assertive, marked by a crisp snare and driving bassline. Mwelwa delivers her lines with a definitive, self-assured bite, drawing a firm line underneath a toxic relationship.
‘Roll On’ is a driving, feelgood cruising track built for late-night drives. It carries a subtle, four-on-the-floor percussive undertone that nods quietly to the UK garage and soulful house scenes without fully leaving its R&B foundation. It's an optimistic track about forward momentum and letting the past wash away.
‘Nasalifya’ translates to ‘Thank You’ in the Zambian vernacular. It’s the grand finale and titular masterpiece. Heavily spiritual and rooted in her heritage, the track opens with deep, reflective musings. Over a gorgeous, slow-burning soul arrangement, she honours the ancestors, trailblazers, and history-makers who paved the way. The repeating refrain of "Nasali fya" serves as a hypnotic, communal mantra of pure gratitude, bringing the record to an emotionally resonant, stunning conclusion.
‘Nasalifya (Thank You)’ isn’t just a triumphant return but a statement of longevity. It skips passing trends in favour of timeless, beautifully crafted UK soul, reminding listeners exactly why Hilary Mwelwa remains a foundational voice in the neo-soul genre. For old fans and newcomers to Hill St. Soul’s music ‘Nasalifya (Thank You)’ is an album to add to your collection.
If you’re new to Hill St. Soul’s music, check out their debut alum ‘Organic Soul.’ It’s a genre classic that has stood the test of time and is the perfect companion to ‘Nasalifya (Thank You).’
Hill St. Soul - Nasalifya (Thank You).
