Every once in a while, music has the powerful ability to ground you in the present and take you years into the future simultaneously. In one listening experience, you are cognisant of both the pleasure you’re able to derive from the musical arrangement presently, while also able to imagine yourself 5, 10 or even 15…
Uniting hazy sonic tales with sweet melodies and powerful lyrics, Joya Mooi has carved out an idiosyncratic hybrid of soulful R&B and dream pop, embodying stories from her past and present. Born in exile to a South African father and a Dutch mother — the singer’s parents met in Angola while her father was in…
Pink Noise, characterised as random noise having more low-frequency components than white noise, is the namesake of Birmingham born singer, Laura Mvula’s latest and third studio album. Following five years after the release of The Dreaming Room, Pink Noise takes a sonic turn but parallel artistic trajectory into Mvula as a commander of vocals in…
“We are all living dangerous” Lebo Mathosa “This is the creation of a different kind of David. This is a Sistine Chapel of flashing neon lights, of pulsating bodies sweating off the Nivea-ness, of vice and escape from the feelings that emerge when darkness is no longer around to conceal them. God no longer floats…
Growing up in Canada with a French-Canadian mother and a Nigerian father, Michelle Oluwatomi Akanbi or Töme, has had exposure and connection to different cultures; an element that has informed and fed her music throughout her career. She has always felt a bit of a disconnect from her Nigerian roots because she was raised outside…
Oskido has been an important figure in South Africa’s music scene for over three decades. In that time, he has seen the popular sound change numerous times and seen many artists come and go. However, Oskido has maintained his status as a legend through his ability to adapt to the changing sound and technology. His…
During October of 2020 — a year within which much ado about everything changed for us all — Naye Ayla released her sophomore EP, Every Feeling, as an independent and unsigned artist on all digital streaming platforms. In the time since the EP’s release, Naye has continued to put her imagination, creativity and passion for…
It has been five years since Sam Wills released his first EP, So Bright, and since then, Wills has experienced a lot of life changes and made a lot of music in the process. Boasting an impressive catalogue of songwriting efforts for Jorja Smith, Tom Misch, Lucky Daye and Jordan Rakei; the Hastings-born singer has…
In recent years TikTok has proven to disrupt the musical hierarchy that entails that established artists with years of industry experience will always remain chart-toppers. Artists such as Olivia Rodrigo and Benee have seen their music gain popularity due to the app which has aided their journeys to successful music careers. The impact TikTok has…
With just about two decades separating where we are now and the last N’SYNC album, pop culture as we know it has gone under a massive reform, especially in the boy band department. Without the major outlier of KPOP megastars BTS, boy band culture has generally taken a backseat — if it hasn’t entirely lost…
With a GRAMMY nomination, a billboard charting album and multiple hit records, Adekunle Gold is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable and successful music acts. He has accomplished so much and has so little to prove. That’s the energy that is present in his new music. His new single, “It Is What It Is” is a…
Mereba has spent her life constantly moving. She was born in Montgomery Alabama, was raised in Pennsylvania and spent her teenage and early adult years in North Carolina, Ethiopia, Pittsburgh and Atlanta. This created a sense of restlessness that would translate beautifully into her music. Her debut album, The Jungle is the Only Way Out,…
