The end of the year becomes hectically busy for most if not all of us and keeping up with all the new music releases while battling yea-end fatigue can result in missing out on singles and EPs by our faves – yes this happened to us lol. Because we love plugging you with music (you love), we recapped some of the gems that didn’t get featured last year. Buckle up coz this list is mighty long! Ya’ll are welcome 🙂

MOE. “me, ever after“

A part of the artist’s responsibility is to represent the times and MOE. chose to delve into the mental health movement of the millennial/Gen-Z generation. With the release of her single, “me, ever after,” the title track of her upcoming debut EP, MOE. issued a tribute to self-care in the aftermath of a fast-paced society where it is simple to forget oneself in being of service to friends, clients, family, and romantic relationships. MOE. focuses on searing vocal textures conjuring passionate tale and uncompromising R&B sonic virtuosity in “me, ever after,” a song created for solo date and self-pampering aficionados. The song is supported by a massive orchestral introduction and gorgeously haunting violins.

Stonebwoy “GIDIGBA“

Stonebwoy, explores the intricacies of high art to inspire his adoring audience to strive beyond their disenfranchised circumstances with the cinematic visuals for his latest single, “GIDIGBA”, which he wrote and co-directed. “The story is inspired by the hardship of life and how we have to constantly stand firm and strong because today you’re here tomorrow anything can change the situation, therefore I wrote this story to touch on the very emotional core of the song and what it represents,” shares Stonebwoy.

Tokollo aka Magesh “Bigger Than Us“

In a groovy funk and amazingly designed tune Tokollo Magesh offers us a melodic-sounding project that transcends space and time with the single, ‘Bigger Than Us. The title of the track provides a chanced moment to reflect and mull over topics of existentialism, making this work transcendental, a work bigger than us. ‘Bigger Than Us’ is one of the few tracks Tokollo Magesh had been working on as part of a greater body of work before his passing. The sounds presented therein are a showcase of Tokollo’s ability to play with various sonic elements while maintaining the power of his hooks as someone best known for his songwriting ability. ‘Bigger Than us’ thus, helps sustain this status.

Manana “COMMA“

Manana released a short 4 track EP in between his ‘heartbreak’ trilogy. With Manana’s core R&B sound, Comma is something new and different for fans. As a break away from the ‘heartbreak’ trilogy which has been steadily releasing since October 2020 The first of which was In The Beginning was the End the second But could the moments in between released in June 2022, and the third is anticipated for 2023. For the Comma EP, Manana worked with various international and local producers including London Rhodes, Max on Production, Yimeeka, and Noble to create music that still speaks to Manana’s sound but that is explorative in the genre through Afrobeats and Log drum. Without a doubt, the essence behind Manana’s songwriting does not change as we will still lyrically experience passion, love, and heartbreak packaged with the feeling of good times and good vibes. The Focal track from Comma is : Inside.

Bye Beneco “Leaving All the Time“

Ask the band what their name means and you get a different story every time. Attend a live show and there’s no telling exactly what you may feel. Welcome to the ever-shifting electric charge that is Bye Beneco. You’re looking through a sparkling kaleidoscope of dreamy indie-pop, laced with cosmic disco and neon psychedelic sounds, flickering like the glittery eye shadow you wore to the party. Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Bye Beneco has just relocated to Berlin where they will expand on international attention gained through milestone performances like Primavera 2018 (BCN). With a strong international network in place and a consistent flow of new music being released, the band have big plans for the European circuit as well as other potential markets like UK & Aus. Bye Beneco’s EP continues telling the story of an outfit who finds comfort in change – not only in music but in life. The creation of this evolved body of work coincides with such change as the band leaves South Africa for an uncharted new chapter in Berlin.

Gino Brown “Dance Ritual”

The award-winning South African Afro Tech music virtuoso producer and DJ, Gino Brown,
finally released his brand new hit track titled Dance Ritual alongside Drumetic Boyz, Zandi
Jay and Mough Mokgerehli. “Dance Ritual is a song that promotes unity and liberty. If we can dance together, we can solve problems together. Dance has no social barrier, only respect. No racial barrier, just a common goal; diving into the spirit of the music and letting go. Freedom is God’s will and what
better way to express freedom than dancing to music. Let us let go of the racial barriers, and the
old ways of thinking. Let us go back to God, the creator and let us unite in his glory and his
grace. This dance ritual only requires love and good energy, let go, let loose and asambeni… one step forward, one step back…turn around and clap your hands” says Gino Brown.

Nobuhle “Indlela”

Following the success of her two singles titled “Indlela” and “Malo We” which as Apple Music’s track of the week, Nobuhle is well on her way to her most incredible work yet. “This EP has been about sharing experiences which I have encountered in this journey of life and artistic space. It is honesty to the shortcomings I have experienced when my spirits refused to write or sing because my head becomes a chaotic space now and then,” reflects Nobuhle. Indlela, a 10-track offering that features some of the country’s musical heavyweights such as Kabza De Small, Josiah De Disciple, Mpumi Mzobe and De Mthuda, just to name a few. The album is a beautiful blend of Zulu love peppered with gratitude to higher deities.

 KIDO MADIBA “Attention“

Bringing back the fire with a brand new Afrobeat gem this summer, Nigeria’s KIDO MADIBA drops Attention. Attention is the second single from this hot new artiste that was recently signed to Def Jam Africa as part of their proactive mission to take our continent’s sounds to the world. Firmly taking his spot as one of the leaders in the Afrobeat genre, Kido Madiba has kept his head down, working hard on producing music that educates and entertains simultaneously, whilst delivering relatable connection through every beat. Attention is the perfect way to get listeners to sit up and listen. With the message stemming from a crazy and chaotic period in a past romantic relationship, Kido uses personal inspiration to drive his penmanship, inspired by love, situational factors, humanity and his environment. He speaks about ‘impact’ being one of his driving forces as a musician, “the definitive idea of success is broad and sometimes fleeting, so I would rather aim for impact”, he states. Using Pidgin English as his primary singing language, the world is gravitating towards this contagious dialect as much as the danceable beats that drive the message.

DJ Dinho “President Ya Flaka”

 Well-established artist and entrepreneur Tiego Samuel Motau, who is famously known as DJ Dinho or as some would call him ‘President Ya Mams’ debuts his new EP titled ‘President Ya Flaka’. When asked about the EP, Dinho said, ‘President Ya Flaka is the first solo eight-track Ep that I have been working on this year and the reason why I titled it ‘President Ya Flaka’ because Mamelodi is called Flaka and I have always been the self-proclaimed president ya Mamelodi. The EP narrates the story of my life, so from where I come from with music, and what I have overcome. From sthandwa sam to zama the message of this Ep is relayed in each track”.

Masterpiece YVK “Son Of A King”

Amapiano Masterpiece YVK dedicated his project ‘Son Of A King’ to his legacy, King of Amapiano Kabza De Small and his newborn son as the two people that motivate him to keep going. The musician set the tone for the album ‘Son of A King’ with the drop of the leading single titled ‘Konnichiwa’. Masterpiece YVK is one of Kabza De Small’s prodigies and dubs himself the son of a king in this music industry and the father of a future king. ‘Son Of A King’ is about Masterpiece realising his purpose, his role in the music industry and what legacy and mark he is destined to leave in the music industry.

Da Capo ft Jethro Tait “Better”

One of South Africa’s legendary house DJs is back, this time with a nostalgic single titled ‘Better’, in collaboration with Jethro Tait. “‘Better’ is a feel-good, motivational song. It’s not a love song but a message to anyone who has actually had an impact in changing one’s life in any circumstances, but most importantly when they are going through the most, just like myself – I believe I make people feel better through my music,” says Da Capo.

Rowlene “Frequency”

After breaking her musical hiatus with a sensual serving of anti-seasonal and sultry singleton songs, “Would You Like That” and “Only (feat. WurlD)”, respectively – award-winning and multi-platinum selling R&B Recording Artist, Rowlene, enjoys a quest for love, life, alignment and synchronicity with her EP, ‘Frequency’ distributed via Platoon. Carving the foundation for her global prominence, ‘Frequency’ featuring a melting pot of multi-genre contemporaries, WurlD, Blaqbonez, and Oxlade, serves as a soothing appetizer ahead of Rowlene’s highly anticipated sophomore album. Delving into the themes of flirtatious sexual prowess, poetic imagery, whimsical and ethereal displays of vocal range, emotive lyricism, and captivating production, Rowlene explores the rollercoaster transition from lust, love, and loss curated for the ladies who seek to reclaim their power in relationship dynamics.

ANATII “AMADLOZI“

ANATII celebrated his return to music after 4 years, with a ‘spiritual’ anthem titled ‘AMADLOZI’ (translated as ANCESTORS) a continuation of the spiritual awakening that he emphasised on his hit single ‘THIXO ONOFEFE’. ANATII pulls apart language and harmonies to affirm, and navigate that through space and time, we are now our ancestor’s living legacy. ‘AMADLOZI ‘featuring Lookatups is the first musical release from ANATII following the release of his Non-Fungible Token, Punisher, a sonic and audio-visual single. ANATII disrupted the norm, to show creatives they have control and power over their art. Answering fan prayers, ANATII gets spiritual on his return to music with this new song. Sharing his thoughts, ANATII had this to say about the new release, “I’m nervous and excited at the same time to release ‘AMADLOZI’. Since my last music release, I’ve spent time living life, learning more, exploring new ways to disrupt the internet, creating new art and new music; with right now feeling like the best time to drop it. Staying true to self, growth, and the process of creating; ANATII went on to reassure fans that music is still a major part of his artistry, “The plan has always been to create – be it music, art, or fashion. I just took time now to create more art, make more music and to let those who appreciate my music to enjoy it once again”.

Sir Trill “Ghost“

Sir Trill is a well-known established household name in the South African music and entertainment scene, he however just expanded his fanbase with his first international show in the UK. How he made a name for himself was through features, and what many don’t know is that Sir Trill has sold multi-platinum records and won awards with just singles and features. ‘Ghost’ is Sir Trill’s debut 19-track album with versatile tracks that fans will not expect from the Amapiano singer and songwriter. The project features a long list of familiar industry faces, the singer teased the album back in 2021 with the single ‘Lwandle Xiluva’ featuring Jessica LM, ThackzinDJ, and Tee Jay.

A-Reece “Deadlines Free Pt 2

A-Reece came back with his annual mixtape for his fans, with a seven-track mixtape that features a stellar lineup of artists, the king of amapiano Maphorisa, legendary South African rapper Emtee, fellow Revenge Club Records signee Jay Jody, Marcus Harvey and Yolophonik and USA, Atlanta based rapper Quentin Miller. A highly experimental forerunner sonically and the perfect segue, A-Reece describes the project as, ”The album before the ALBUM. The project comprises seven cuts. All intended to be shortlisted. No rejects from prior projects, all songs are less than a year old. The process felt synonymous to painting in front of a live audience with a time limit. Exhilarating and intense at the same time. I just think this approach takes me out of my comfort zone which is something I need as I transition into wrapping up P2,” says A-Reece.

Black Is Brown Compilation Vol II

A year after the release of their successful album, Black Is Brown Compilation Vol I, which spawned hits like Halala and Hade Mr JazziQ’s label returns with Vol 2 of the successful compilation series. Black is Brown kicked things off with the pre-order of the compilation that went live on the 18^th of November 22 with the lead single ‘Mozambique’ by Justin 99 x Star’Jazz x Mr Jazziq featuring 10x Guluva, Yung Silly Coon and Pills. Justin 99 talks about how the lead single came about and shares “Load shedding is what inspired the song Mozambique. We had loadshedding at 10pm and the lights came b ack at 12midnight. As soon as the lights came back, I went into studio and started working and as soon as the boys heard the beat, Guluva, Yung Silly Coon and Pills, they wanted to record instantly. The beat has an islandly vibe and we wanted to go for an island theme with the lyrics and that’s where Mozambique came from. Pills started and everyone followed”.

Lord Script “Shibilika Remix”

A remix of galactic proportions, the biggest Dubane rappers team up to bring the music game to its knees! The Yanos snapped their fingers and took over with melodic beats and powerful collaborations, but Shibilika remix has the A-Team to show that hip-hop is in fact, still very much alive. Audiomarc begins with his signature, telling us to turn this song up, and together with the Audio Sims beat, you know it’s about to be out of this world. Mr Blxckie Somnyama got the first verse, flexing his lyrical prowess in suave panther style. We love him from the original song, so who better to weave the hook that holds the song together than Okmalumkoolkat: his word gymnastics are the perfect flow to make this one a street banger. Enters the man of the moment with iron-clad conviction from the first line that this is indeed the remix to end all remixes. Lord Script reminds us why he’s the author of this marvel of a collaboration by switching the flow of the song and showing a stark contrast with the previous rappers. It’s as if he wants us to see the versatility in the hip-hop game and introduces the next 2 superheroes of the arena. MusiholiQ is up next, hammering home the reason he’s a godly hitmaker, with his lightning-quick rhymes and electric vocals. This brings us to Nasty C’s verse, who’s just come back from America to show us he’s been captain of the rap game since he was in high school! The Zulu Man With Some Power gives us a side of him we have never seen before, making this one of the most important songs for 2022… The Avengers has really done the most to end this game!

MSA “Isikhathi”

Multi-talented producer, singer and songwriter, MSA also affectionately known as MSA On The Beat makes a return and takes us back in time with honeyed new single titled Isikhathi featuring Lady Steezy, as he enters a new chapter in his artistry. Isikhathi sees MSA, and plots a combination of dope beats and stunning instrumentals that would easily gladden the hearts and souls of a sadist. With Lady Steezy’s celestial vocals, it just doesn’t get better than this for the wave of Afro-soul music sweeping across the African continent. Having worked with the likes of Ice Prince, L-tido, Kwesta, Mlindo the Vocalist and Blaklez, MSA has cemented his position in the industry and with a debut album already in the works, he is on a path to reach greater heights. The result is an opulent and varied offering from an artist whose years on the scene show both his commitment to his sound and his dexterity within that. With a full body of work on the horizon set to be released this winter under Mudhouse Records, Isikhathi is a gentle reminder of MSA’s ability to take the soul on a journey, it will definitely set the tone for a new era of MSA.

Valerie Omari “If I Tried”

Negotiating to maintain a toxic relationship carries an underlying risk of starving oneself of tenderness, peace of mind, and the ability to love. Valerie Omari, a gifted singer/songwriter noted for her R&B and hip-hop-oriented style, releases her latest track, “If I Tried (feat. The Rabbi Himself),” via Platoon, after many lives of romantic struggle, failure, and the difficult process of letting go. “If I Tried”, the lead single from her sophomore offering ‘Closure’, finds Valerie Omari and The Rabbi Himself delve into a classical “lovers quarrel” duet structure with a modern twist of disjointed communication. Through the delicate blend of frustration and nostalgia produced by Zino D, “If I Tried” brings to light the harrowing culture of lacklustre communication, emotional unavailability, friends policing relationships, and the preference for ghosting over closure, all of which makes it difficult for a disgruntled lover to acknowledge their unhappiness and equally suffocate their process of being released from a trauma bond.

Sun-EL Musician “Makwande”

Following the incredible success of his first album To The World And Beyond, which featured an intergalactic virtual event at the height of lockdown, becoming a comfort and crutch to many electronic music fans during the craziest time of our lives, and the follow-up 2021 hit project African Electronic Dance Music, SA’s most loved producer and DJ returned with two tracks from his upcoming album AEDM: Interstellar, due for release in 2023. These two singles from AEDM: Interstellar, are an early taste of Sun-EL Musician’s upcoming album, where the award-winning, platinum-certified South African producer will continue his hot streak from African Electronic Dance Music (AEDM) released December 2021. AEDM featured a mix of instrumental and vocal tracks for which he was nominated in the Best Dance Album category at the South African Music Awards. AEDM: Interstellar’s first single ‘Makwande’ features the legendary voice of Afro-pop sensation Ami Faku and well-loved South African house producer FKA Mash in a beautifully blended open-hearted dance track. This is not the first collaboration with Ami Faku and Sun-EL Musician, a standout ‘Into Ingawe’ was a seminal track for both of their careers and amassed millions of streams across DSPs with weeks of radio charting. The second track off of AEDM: Interstellar is ‘Rata’, a melodic hypnotic chant set over Sun-EL Musician’s signature brand of Afro-house, which fans have been experiencing on his numerous shows through his performances locally and abroad. This EP is just a small dose of Vitamin D for fans of Sun-EL Musician who delivers his unique brand of cosmic house.

Mellow & Sleazy “Amasango”

Music producers and DJs Mellow & Sleazy came back again with yet another new hit titled “Amasango” to close off the year the best way they believe they could and ushered us into the festive season the Mellow & Sleazy way. The duo teamed up with Amapiano artist and producer Tman Xpress on this new single and they have also feature the talented SjavasDaDeejay & TitoM. Laced up with irresistible beats, melodic hooks, and the signature BacardiYano sound that the duo is known for, the new single Amasago aimed to open many doors including the groove ones and that of the year 2023. When asked about the making of the single and why it was titled Amasango this is what the guys shared: ‘Amasango is about the opening of doors and bringing fresh energy into our music, which is what inspired us. It’s the beginning of a new chapter”. They also shared that working with Tman xpress, sjavasdeejay, and TitoM was lovely and that the new music is a reflection of that.

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THE END!

This is a list and a half! Let us know which releases are your favourites! Happy…