An alter ego crafted by Ethiopian singer-songwriter Mikyas Mengistu, Ebne Hakim is a student on a quest to understand both the universe and his place within it, and on his debut EP, Brana, he aims to bring that experience to life. Through both melodic and spoken word interludes, Hakim leans into the Qene tradition of improvised Amharic poetry, using its meaning-within-a-meaning structure to unpack how his generation is faced with weighing the ideologies and virtues of cultural identity they were led to believe growing up—against the harsh realities and broken promises that belie them. Over six tracks—filled with cinematic, sweeping arrangements that meld traditional sounds with R&B, funk, soul, and electronic vibes (a sound he’s dubbed “Ethio-fusion”)—Hakim details the coming-of-age experience of balancing the past and the new, and his own journey towards finding fulfilment and self-determination.