Centre of Somewhere: South Africa Focus / Presented in partnership with 432 Presents

DESIRE MAREA
(South Africa)

FRI 13 OCTOBER 2023
20:00 - 23:00 (Support 20:30)
£12 - £8 (Concessions)
Tramway (Directions)

ACCESS: S (Festival Access Page).
This is a sound based gig.

There will be a limited number of seats available

Desire Marea’s voice is a culmination of many South African voices; a mouthpiece for a choir of spirits and entities. The South African artist’s second album On the Romance of Being - an album of the week at The Quietus and a New Music Fix album at BBC 6Music – was released on Mute earlier this year, and is immersed in the communal, ceremonial and healing qualities of music, sonically taking in post-gospel, spiritual jazz and the ancient music of the Nguni and Ndau peoples.

Desire’s 2020 debut album, was one of Rough Trade’s Albums of the Year and BBC 6Music’s Album of the Day. The album traversed electronic genres in an introspective exploration of modern love and loss, drawing in fans from across the globe, including Grace Jones, who went on to invite Desire to perform at her Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre.

Before their solo career, Desire formed beloved Joburg collective FAKA with creative partner Fela Gucci. FAKA toured the world extensively; made their American debut scoring for Telfar at NYFW; achieved icon status by partnering with Versace to soundtrack their S/S 2019 menswear show and were featured in the Vogue World 100 and Dazed 100 lists.

Desire will be joined on stage by Guest Performer - Eyve.

Amandawe-based Desire Marea is a creative force to be reckoned with, a mouthpiece for a choir of South African spirits and entities.Over two albums, he has drawn in fans from across the globe, including Grace Jones, who went on to invite Desire to perform at Meltdown Festival, London.

Eyve is a singer/rapper based in Glasgow.  Eyve's passion for music is an integral part of her identity. She finds solace in creating and performing music, and it has been a constant source of positivity and inner peace throughout her life. Her musical style draws influence from hip hop, pop, R&B, reggae, her African roots, and jazz. nameseyve.com

Show Credits:

Band Desire Marea - Vocals, Sanele Ngubane - Synth, Gordon Hulbert - Piano/Keys/Bass, Dodo Ndlazi - Drums
Management: SemaphoreMGMT
Label: Mute
Agent: DISK Agency

Photos: Main banner shot and photo 4 - © Tadenda Chidora - all other photos courtesey of Desire Marea.

Photo of Eyve - © Siyao Li

Desire Marea is presented as part of the Centre of Somewhere South Africa focus, funded by the British Council International Collaboration programme.