Release Radar: Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys “Play” and Umgido “Pressure” are out today!
Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys have released “Play” the first single off the final album in the Tapes trilogy, Teen Tapes (for performing your stunts).
“Play’s” lyrics – “I wanna show you things I haven’t seen / take you places I haven’t been / cause I wasn’t brave / and I didn’t stay / but somehow you did / now I wanna learn to play” - serve as both a confession and an invitation from an artist who is using the process of songwriting as a self-generated map back into feelings of unhesitant love.
“The song and the video are intense but also tender, and teasing,” says Kruger of “Play”. “There is a determination to let go, and an appreciation for the paradox therein. It’s a curious and very serious approach to playing by someone who is forsaking shyness for the pure joy of meeting the gaze of another.”
Umgido’s “Pressure” dropped today on all major streaming platforms. The release was inspired by how Gqom took over South Africa.
“It was an exciting time and producers wanted to improve and develop the sound. But this wasn’t easy and attempts at taking Gqom further was seen by traditional Gqom fans as not credible.
This created a lot of pressure for the duo as they ventured into a new world of exploration into Afro House and House - the area in which many African House DJs saw a future for, and meaningful representation of, African culture.
In this way, the duo’s sound included elements that didn’t restrict any listener, no matter their demography. This was their way of introducing their sound to their listeners while still staying true to some Gqom elements.”
