‘Great pop comes from tension, opposition, progress, and fear of progress.’ Among the tensions: those ‘between industry and the underground, between artifice and authenticity, between the adventurers and the curators, between rock and pop, between dumb and clever, and between boys and girls.’ The best pop comes from ‘juggling those contradictions rather than purging them’—…
A sonic dive into funk, 80’s South African Bubblegum pop with a mixture of kwaito and contemporary electro-dance music is the best way to describe Interblaktic, the third album from Muzi. The triumphant and bold offering from Mzansi’s golden child of electronic music follows the MAMA EP that was released this time last year. Muzi’s…
‘Beasts of No Nation’ – that is a song whose title I fell in love with first before even hearing the song. I enjoyed its poetry, its vivid imagery – within only one line – and upon realising it for mere seconds, it had and still has a strong impact on me today. I love…
There’s something heartwarming about looking back at history and seeing who has acted as a voice of, and for the queer community. It’s a comforting feeling, knowing that there were people brave enough to use their voices to champion for the good fight. The only discomforting factor, being that this type of visibility is usually…
James Baldwin once said “all art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique”. A dizzying sentiment that at once makes so much sense — the absoluteness and shame often clouding confession, colliding with the opacity and vulnerability of obliqueness and art. “This song speaks to the search for love, magnetic chemistry and bonds…
“October 20, 2020 something happened with the government, they think say we forget. For where, for Ozumba Mbadiwe” — read the lyrics from the second verse of Nigerian artist Reekado Banks’ new single ‘Ozumba Mbadiwe’ – named after a Nigerian politician and a road on Lagos Island that leads to Lekki Toll Gate. As we…
Over the past couple of years, Mannywellz has stacked up an impressive music catalogue. Breakout songs like “Wellz”, “SoulFro” and “Meta” — display his songwriting abilities and the different genres he is able to tap into. Mannywellz also snatched a Grammy Award for his contribution to John Daversa and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals…
The magic of Kujenga lies in their ability to create off the cuff. That is their bread and butter and it is the foundation of their creative process. The Cape Town-based band consists of Owethu Ndwandwe on keys and vocals, his twin brother Zwide Ndwandwe on bass, Thane Smith on guitar and Skhumbuzo Mhlauli on…
“Accompanied by her golden guitar, her music can be described as Indie Soul. Imbued with emotional resonance and tranquil melodies, sharing personal feelings and moments in her lyrics, she encourages listeners to reflect on their own experiences. An advocate for vulnerability, Luh’ra has been gently sharing her music since 2017.” Luh’ra, 2021. The month is…
Introducing itself with a laid-back jazzy tune — something a little reminiscent of what an Anti Lilly & Phoniks track could sound like, think “It’s Nice Outside” — before hitting us with Sipho the Gift proclaiming in a melodic switch-up, “I might just need an advance on that cheque okay” — “Growth” featuring YoungsatCPT, is…
Born in the same year that the song “Too Late for Mama” by Brenda Fassie was released, Mpho Sebina’s new single – also titled “Too Late for Mama” – is a sincere offering that pays homage to the legendary, adored Brenda Fassie song. First composed and penned by Sello ‘Chicco’ Twala in 1989, ‘Too Late…
don’t wake me while I’m dreaming Should I tell someone about my dreams? dreams are not mere illusion Seeing my future through these visions English translation of a verse from Bebé’s “Saltos de Realidade” At a mere 17 years old, and having recently released her first self-titled album, São Paulo born Bebé’s sonic craft and…
