From a childhood growing up on a remote farm amid the political upheaval during the end South Africa’s apartheid, to venturing alone to New York City at age 17 to pursue music, to writing in Ireland, composing in Turkey & Germany, and heading back to NYC & South Africa near the start of the pandemic to finish the record and then filming music videos in Colombia, ‘The Life of Margaret Cornelius’ is a raw and powerful glimpse into the creative mind of one of rock’s most exciting new artists.

Once called “New York's Best Singer (and the World's)” by Huff Post while AfroPunk described her performances as “an inspiring and spiritual experience”, Tuelo’s four-year journey to create this collection has resulted in an album that is a "mesmerizing cross-cultural mashup of punk, rock, soul and the Afro strains of her homeland" (Magnet Magazine).

The alter-ego of the titular Margaret Cornelius is used, in Tuelo’s words, as “a tool through which to relay some of the things I want to unpack.” She adds “the record is a protest, awakening the mind, and trying to uncover the uncomfortable but important things that make us human… it covers the spectrum of feelings possible, but mostly urges you to leave trouble even if it seems impossible, and find a place to start again.”

A mystical, soulful and sometimes haunting rock record, Tuelo’s debut album uses her powerhouse and uniquely stirring vocals to create a soulful wave of art-rock inspired by the great traditions of South African protest music and the polyrhythms and tonalities of her native Tswana and Khoikhoi tribes. Two videos have rolled out leading up to the album (“Saint Margaret” & “Canary”) with several others to come, all continuing a singular narrative of rising, falling and discovering one’s self worth. Also recently announced is a collection of artwork NFTs that Tuelo has made herself including the album cover and single artwork for every track on the album. MORE INFO HERE.

Just listening to “Happier” (a punk-infused reflection on compounded African immigrant issues and freeing herself of burdens of conforming), “Trouble” (a beautiful swaying plea for her troubles to leave her), and “Killer” (a spacey slice of psychedelia and also the first full song Tuelo ever wrote) exemplifies the breadth of a powerful new talent injecting the indie rock scene with a fresh, insightful perspective. Tuelo also stares squarely and unafraid in the face of those who don’t see a woman of color inhabiting the current rock landscape, saying “I can't wait to show the world what music can do, how music can be, that rock can be elevated, and that black people who started it have a place here.”

‘The Life of Margaret Cornelius’ 

1. I May Be Lost (intro)

2. Happier

3. Canary

4. Trouble

5. Killer

6. Saint Margaret

7. Queen of Nothing

8. Hilda Hilda

9. I Am A Kingdom

10. Radio Tuelo (interlude)

11. How It Ends

12. How It Really Ends