She’s South Africa’s shining R&B songstress, bringing a soulful elegance to her music that is deserving of the highest praise. But after almost ten years in the industry, Rowlene is ready to broaden her horizons.
Her latest single is a fully-fledged Afropop offering, tinged by sweet house rhythms and amapiano-type production. It’s called “Sweet Escape” – a fitting title, perhaps, as Rowlene spreads her wings, poised to fly.
Recorded over the space of three years alongside Zimbabwean producer SOKO (real name Brian Soko) and Gemini Major, the single was originally a pop ballad which Rowlene slowly transformed into something more danceable. “I really wanted to evoke emotion that felt good and relatable,” she tells me, “something a little more uptempo compared what I’m usually doing.”
She describes the creative process as “a seamless and organic collaborative effort” exploring what it means to feel safe in your relationship with someone. “It’s about finding someone who feels like a safe space for you, even if it’s only temporary,” says Rowlene. “And I think finding that is so valuable because it’s a scarce feeling. It could be a friend, a partner, a situantionship, anyone who brings you comfort.”
Old-school influences like Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Brandy are present, alongside contemporary borrowings from some of Rowlene’s peers in the industry. Think Tyla, Tinashe, SZA. Rowlene’s exquisite vocal performance paired with lush electronic instrumentation makes this track a standout in her discography. And there’s more where that came from.
Rowlene tells me about another single she has coming out next month that is completely out of the box for her. It’s a kind of genre potion, mixing EDM and Afro Tech with her staple soul foundations. “Almost like The Weeknd, but more extreme,” she teases.
“I keep surprising myself,” Rowlene says. “But the people around me see my potential and they push me to go further. I think I’m finally gaining the confidence to be in spaces that, before, I felt I wasn’t really deserving of.”
Rowlene is moving at her own pace, and in all honesty, this almost feels like a turning point in her flourishing career. A moment she’ll look back on in years to come and say wow, I really did that.
