Alternative music duo, Umle release She Been Queen, a playful celebration of savouring love in the most relaxed spaces
Independent and alternative music duo, Umle release She Been Queen, a bewitching dedication to what happens when you fall in love on a night out. Their unconventional sound lands them on our Alternative Tuesday feature for today.
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Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Umle are a singer – songwriter duo consisting of Siphamandla Fete and Siybonga Radu both born and bred in Gqeberha.
Umle refers to the blackish residue or ash found on the thatch roof of a rondavel. Their sound is a fusion of soul, afro funk and African folk with an influence of mbaqanga, singing in a combination of isiXhosa and English.
The duo made their feature on the debut album Zaneliza: How The Water Moves by Msaki on the track titled Gibel’ Inkwenkwezi, that lead to them performing at the Oppikoppi festival and receiving a Standing Ovation Award at The National Arts Festival.
She Been Queen is taken from their 2021 7-track EP, Abantwana Belanga
She Been Queen sounds like a warm summer afternoon. The two artists show off their dexterity on the Nduduzo Makathini produced single. They immaculately marrying funk, jazz, soul and pop on the song, a trait they pepper all throughout their 2021 EP, Abantwana Belanga.
If you’ve never been to a shebeen, let alone one in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, how this song opens and ends, gives one an intimate look into the rich musical history of Gqeberha and the sonic that keeps the city moving.
The pair describes the song as a celebration and a relaxation of sorts. This is how people who work hard enjoy their time, through a sip of something nice. And in a communal effort. She Been Queen is about seeing a beautiful muntuza at the local shebeen, yet through your drunken tirade you want to make sense of your surroundings.
She Been Queen is a feel-good track about having a conversation with a beautiful person, eyeing each other and seeking love. Pushing people in the circle to have the last dance.
The song is a successful combination of enchanting Xhosa lyrics sung in an effortless manner. The witty play on words on this track’s title is synonymous with how this duo plays in and out of the studio.
Abantwana Belanga is produced by Nduduzo Makhathini, Tino Dambaneuanga playing on drums, Spanish Fly on bass, Nosipho Twani and Cwaita Rula on backing vocals.
She Been Queen is available for purchase and streaming across digital stores.
