Kwela’s latest single, ‘Pieces (Pt. I, II, III, IV)’ has been released as an ode to Africa’s ambient and un/heard voices – and again demonstrates the South African artist’s fertile creative imagination and ability to bring together music, lyricism and storytelling in an entirely original way.
The new single comes on the heels of ‘Kgalagadi. Not Kalahari’, released at the end of April and setting the scene for ‘We The Beautyful Ones’, an upcoming body of work from the Johannesburg-based lyricist, vocalist and producer.
“‘Pieces’ is an abridged A-Z list of Africa’s offerings, attractions, loot and spoils to the world,” says Kwela of the new single.
“It’s a puzzle, taken apart and reassembled lyrically, on a boom-boom-bap beat. It’s a treasure trove that keeps giving, from a part of the world ridiculously rich in culture, people and nature.”
Recorded in transit, the song is divided into four parts, in this way echoing the geographical areas of the African continent. An ode to voices ambient and un/heard, which play throughout the song’s four suites, “Pieces” was initially imagined as a children’s song from the future and is imbued with a lightness that comes from Kwela’s storytelling and rhymes.
Joining the multi-talent on the track is Sibusile Xaba on guitar and Mahlatse “Ribatone” Riba on keys.
Stream ‘Pieces (Pt. I, II, III, IV)’ below:
