New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Today, emerging South African icon Nakhane releases his US debut You Will Not Die(BMG), a trailblazing work that "transcends typical pop fodder, addressing the intersection of queerness, blackness, and the eternal" (NPR Music). You Will Not Die has received praise from The New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, FADER and so many more - see quotes below.
Across 18 tracks - including masterful takes on
David Bowie's "
Sweet Thing" and New Order's "Age Of Consent" - Nakhane excavates a traumatic, religious upbringing with the courage and supernatural voice that have made him a new idol of sexual freedom and self-love. He has already found fans in Madonna,
Perfume Genius, Nile Rodgers, and Elton John, and was recently named an Artist To Watch In 2019 by The New York Times, one of Pop's Most Influential New Stars by British Vogue, one of PAPER's 100 People Taking Over 2019, and one of the Dazed 100.
You Will Not Die, produced with
Bat For Lashes collaborator Ben Christophers, marks the beginning of another exciting year for the South African artist. Already a household name in his home country, 2018 brought his UK TV debut on Later… With Jools Holland, Q Awards nomination for Breakthrough Act, and much more. Nakhane also starred in acclaimed, Oscar-shortlisted South African movie Inxeba (The Wound), a role in which he won several awards, including The Best Actor in a Foreign Film Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
Nakhane is planning his first-ever headlining US dates later this year — more info coming soon.
You Will Not Die (Deluxe) Track List
Violent Measures
Clairvoyant
Interloper
You Will Not Die
Presbyteria
The Dead
Star Red
Fog
By the Gullet
All Along
Teen Prayer
Clairvoyant (Radio Mix)
New Brighton (feat. ANOHNI)
Sweet Thing
Age of Consent
Medicine
Hey, Lover
New Brighton (DJ Maphorisa Version)
Praise for Nakhane
"The songs on You Will Not Die delve into both trauma and redemption. They ponder faith, pleasure, exile and belonging; they traverse hymns, neo-soul, South African pop and electronic dance music, and Nakhane's voice crests in a vibrant, androgynous falsetto." - The New York Times, 10 Artists to Watch in 2019
"Nakhane has created art which transcends typical pop fodder, addressing the intersection of queerness, blackness, and the eternal." - NPR Music
"One of music's most gifted and singular young creators. His ineffable art-pop is devastatingly sad, romantic, theatrical, and often autobiographical." - PAPER
"There's an irresistible boldness to the rising South African singer…an LGBTQ trailblazer with a startling voice, in more ways than one." - The Guardian
"A grand and stunning effort that touches down on queerness, desolation, and spirituality." - GQ
"Unlike anything you'll hear this year." - Q
"A visceral, soul-opening search for solace and self." - The Quietus
"
Unforgettable" - The FADER // "Angelic" - Billboard // "Elegiac" - Stereogum // "Soul-Abiding" - HYPEBEAST
