Videos

DESIRE MAREA releases debut album ‘Desire’

• 16th Jun 2021

Today Durban, South Africa-based artist Desire Marea announces the release of their debut album, ‘Desire’, out 6th August 2021 on Mute.

Along with the announcement, Desire has shared a new video for single “Tavern Kween“– a track that was inspired by Desire’s aunts who would go against convention to find freedom and empowerment in the usually male-occupied taverns in their hometown of Amandawe. Desire comments: “It’s an ode to them, an ode for defiance and feminine manifestations everywhere, an ode to people who come alive at night, to people who enjoy being free and also an ode to people who are fierce about claiming their freedom.”

Video director Allison Swank adds: “This video is a tribute to all of the Tavern Kweens that lived dangerously before us, especially the queer icon Lebo Mathosa. It’s a statement of gratitude to those that survive and thrive now. It’s a love letter to the free and fierce future Kweens we hope to inspire.

Kwazulu-natal born, multi-disciplinary artist Desire Marea (born Buyani Duma) was a founding member of Johannesburg collective FAKA. As FAKA Desire Marea and creative partner Fela Gucci toured the world extensively making their American debut scoring for the brand Telfar at NYFW and partnering with Versace to soundtrack their S/S 2019 menswear show before being included in the Vogue World 100 and Dazed 100 lists.

Debut solo album ‘Desire’ is an exploration of loss, displacement, and the terrifying manifestations of love in the contemporary world. The expansive exploration of spirituality and the divine is palpable, and skilfully interlaces snapshots from decidedly grounded human experiences. It serves as a captivating introduction to their singular and multi-faceted world.

The album, with artwork by visual activist Zanele Muholi who recently had their first major UK exhibition at the Tate Modern, was originally released digitally on Desire’s own imprint Izimakade Records early in 2020. Now it will be available on CD and vinyl for the first time from 6th August via Mute. The standard vinyl is white with lyric booklet, while the Rough Trade edition is on clear vinyl in a PVC sleeve and comes with a limited edition 4 track CD of ‘Desire Marea Nezimakade (Live at Alliance Française Ethekwini)’. New material is set to follow in due course.

‘Desire’ track list:
1. Self Center
2. Zibuyile Izimakade
3. You Think I’m Horny
4. Tavern Kween
5. Thokozani
6. The Void
7. Uncle Kenny
8. Ntokozo
9. Studies in Black Trauma