FENGa’s latest album WTF! is a statement piece from an up-and-coming artist who’s turning heads in the Indian indie music scene. Hailing from a small town in Mizoram, FENGa brings big dreams and an even bigger palette of sounds to his debut full-length project. WTF! is an album that is as personal as it is sonically adventurous, a reflection of FENGa’s journey from humble roots to a creative tour-de-force.
Storytelling at the Core
Right from the opening moments of WTF!’s first song “BaBy!”, FENGa’s storytelling prowess and production skill are on full display. The track kicks off with a groovy beat and a striking autobiographical line: “Came from a small town, boy named FENG, he got big dreams…” pulling us into the narrative of a young dreamer. The production is undeniably groovy, setting an upbeat tone even as FENGa starts telling his story. It’s a blend of old-school hip-hop vibe with a modern polish, complete with bouncing basslines and shimmering synths. FENGa’s vocals ride the rhythm confidently, switching between rap and melodic refrains.
One of the most striking aspects of WTF! is how personal and narrative-driven it is. FENGa isn’t afraid to delve into deeply intimate experiences and tough truths within his songs. In fact, the album is structured in a way that reflects chapters of his life. “Part I is an introduction to who I am, my deep-rooted cynicism that stems from sexual abuse and the willingness – or naivety – to fall and re-fall in love,” FENGa confides. This candid admission sets the emotional stakes for the album. Through his music, FENGa confronts trauma and cynicism openly, yet there’s an underlying sense of hope and resilience. Even as he acknowledges pain, he also acknowledges a persistent desire to trust and to love again.
The tone is natural and unfiltered, with a curiosity about life’s twists and turns that comes through in his lyrics. He often writes in the third person or through characters, but it’s clear these stories are extensions of his own reality. The songs are laced with personal notes and reflections, from nostalgic recollections of childhood and hometown scenes to introspective musings on identity and purpose. There’s a moment in one track where he paints a vignette of himself alone in his room, penning rhymes while others sleep, little details that make the listening experience feel intimate and genuine.
Full-Spectrum Creativity
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of WTF! is how much of it FENGa crafted with his own hands. The album is written, produced, and even mixed by FENGa himself. In an era where many artists rely on big teams of songwriters and producers, FENGa’s DIY approach stands out. This hands-on creative control lends the album a cohesive voice, it truly feels like one artist’s singular vision, uncompromised and authentic.
FENGa effortlessly traverses across genres and styles on this record, further proving his versatility. He’s not content to stay in one sonic lane. WTF! touches on hip-hop, R&B, funk, and even hints of rock and local Mizo influences, yet it all gels together under FENGa’s distinctive style. His range of influences is broad: one moment he’s delivering razor-sharp rap bars over a trap beat, and the next he’s crooning soulfully through a jazzy chord progression. Tracks like “ABCD!” and “FENG don’t RAP” inject playful, tongue-in-cheek moments, the former being a high-energy anthem that creatively runs through the alphabet as a metaphor for his come-up, and the latter featuring FENGa teaming up with rapper godblezseej in a witty commentary on labels and expectations. On the other hand, songs like “GodSpeed” (a collaboration with singer Souledfreak) bring a smooth R&B flair, and “HarderThanBefore” carries an introspective, motivational tone. This eclectic mix never feels disjointed, thanks to FENGa’s consistent narrative voice and production style tying it all together.
Listeners will also notice FENGa’s knack for creating memorable hooks and melodies. Even when he’s rapping rapid-fire verses, he often transitions to sung choruses or layered vocal harmonies that stick in your head. It’s clear he has put thought into every detail, from the arrangement of each track down to the sonic texture of particular drum hits.
Sampling Heritage and Clearing the Way
One standout element on WTF! is FENGa’s use of sampling, particularly how he bridges his Mizo heritage with contemporary music through a clever sample on the track “BAEDAWNG!”. This song’s very title is a stylized nod to the phrase “Bei a dawng lua e,” which comes from a beloved classic track in the Mizo language. In “BAEDAWNG!”, FENGa flips a sample from Vulmawi’s 1980 song “Bei a Dawng Lua E” and turns it into something entirely his own. The result is an old melody lending its soul to the new beats, and the new context giving that old refrain fresh life.
However, incorporating a sample from a decades-old regional song was not as simple as looping a hook and calling it a day. FENGa went the extra mile to do it the right way, which meant securing the rights and blessing to use the sample. “It’s sampled from Vulmawi’s ‘Bei a Dawng Lua E.’ I got the sample idea from Cray Prod before our gig at Lunglei; he had made a dance record with it and it never left my head,” FENGa explains.
Getting the sample cleared was a journey in itself. As an independent artist, FENGa faced the daunting task of reaching out to the original song’s rights holders, in this case, the legendary Vulmawi (and any associated publishers), to ask for permission. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes challenge that many big-label artists have entire legal teams for. But FENGa approached it with the same determination he applied to the music. He has shared how important it was to him to honor the original creators.
The Meaning of WTF!
With such a kaleidoscope of sounds and stories packed into one record, one might wonder: why call the album WTF!? The album doesn’t strictly spell out an acronym or a single theme; instead, it embraces the idea that life is full of “WTF” moments that can leave us bewildered, amused, or even enlightened. FENGa harnesses that chaotic energy and turns it into art. Each track on WTF! explores a different facet of his life and imagination, so listening to the album front-to-back is a bit like flipping through a diary filled with shocking confessions, heartfelt letters, and aspirational entries about the future. The title ties all those experiences together with a sly grin, as if FENGa is acknowledging that sometimes the only reaction to life’s wild ride is a bemused “WTF!” followed by a determination to carry on.
There’s an endearing sense of honesty in how he presents himself: confident yet humble, serious about his craft but not afraid to poke fun at himself. Even when the album touches on heavy subjects, and it does, FENGa balances them with wit and hope.
As FENGa continues to grow as an artist, we know one thing is certain: if WTF! is any indication, he will do it on his own terms, with curiosity, creativity, and a personal touch that sets him apart. It reminds us that behind every beat and rhyme, there’s a human story, one that can inspire, console, and ignite others. In a world of impersonal playlists and formulaic hits, FENGa’s WTF! is a welcome dose of real talk. It’s as if he’s saying to the world: Here I am, this is my story, WTF, let’s enjoy the ride.
