Add to playlist: the heartbreak post-mortems of Cape Town’s Rowlene and the week’s best new tracks
Rowlene, a Cape Town singer known for collaborations with Nasty C, is presented as an R&B artist whose patient, confessional style has distinguished her from South Africa’s amapiano-led pop scene. Her new album, Some Strings Attached, particularly the track Hurts 2b Reminded, examines the grief of friendships that have faded rather than romantic break-ups, suggesting she is ready to move beyond a long career as a featured performer.
She first gained wide attention on Nasty C’s 2018 track SMA and later earned a South African music award nomination for her 2020 debut, 11:11; several songs also appeared in Netflix’s Blood & Water. The playlist additionally recommends new releases by Hayley Williams’s band Power Snatch, Heavensouls, Sophia Stel, Axel Boman and Superpitcher, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Shabazz Palaces, and Garefowl.
- Rowlene’s new album centres on reflective R&B and lost friendships.
- Her career grew through Nasty C collaborations and Netflix exposure.
- The column also selects seven other new tracks.