Local Afro-jazz singer Solly Nkhawane has released a new album filled with his unique style and melodies. The album, produced by Nkhawane himself, was recorded at Xinare Entertainment Records.

“I sing about topical issues, and my lyrics are a way of conveying messages. On my latest album, I aim to raise awareness in the community, especially among the youth, about the importance of preserving our culture. Things are not going well today because we are neglecting our roots. The gods have forsaken us, and we must humble ourselves and return to the basics,” he said.

The new album, called “Hard to Believe,” contains eight songs, with tracks such as “Thunderstorm”, “Ximamailane”, “Marago”, and an instrumental version of “Mmatswale” leaving a lasting impression. The songs are filled with unique and authentic rhythms that create an instant appeal to audiences of different tastes.

“‘Mmatswale’ is a song that urges listeners to accept the end of a relationship because one cannot force the other into continuing to love them,” he explained. “In simple language, if the relationship is over, both parties must allow each other to have a new relationship instead of bombarding them with jealousy and bitter backstabbing. Many relationships get broken because one partner goes out and returns in the wee hours, only to find that the partner is not happy. Again, many harmful things happen in the dark of the night out in the streets, so it is always advisable to get home on time to avoid being hurt or injured by the beasts.”

Nkhawane added that music has a language of its own as people from different cultural backgrounds can listen to music from a specific culture and still be touched by it. “Music, for me, is art that can be used to touch people’s lives and to communicate or spread messages to society. By listening to music, people can be emotionally healed,” he said.