“Stunning” (GQ) South African Breakout Star Nakhane Announces Debut North American Headlining Dates
Will Play Shows In NYC, LA and Toronto Pride In Support Of “Unforgettable” (FADER) You Will Not Die
Today, emerging South African art-pop star Nakhane announces his debut headlining US dates, including in LA at School Night on June 17, in NYC at Baby’s All Right on June 20, and a performance at Toronto Pride on June 21. Nakhane will also be returning to New York in August for a special Summerstage performance at Marcus Garvey Park.
Learn more about Nakhane’s incredible story — including coming out to his conservative Christian family, overcoming a stint of quasi-homelessness, and more — in a recent New York Times profile: https://nyti.ms/2tTKTxq
Earlier this year, Nakhane released his US debut album You Will Not Die (BMG), a “grand and stunning” (GQ) work produced with Bat For Lashes collaborator Ben Christophers that is “devastatingly sad, romantic, theatrical, and often autobiographical” (PAPER). The album was the subject of raves from The New York Times, NPR Music, The FADER and many more (see below). Additionally, Nakhane — already a household name in his home country — was just nominated for two South African Music Awards, including Male Artist Of The Year and Best Alternative Album.
Watch the video for Nakhane’s ANOHNI collaboration “New Brighton”: https://youtu.be/ehnk8hSnJ7c
And listen to him discuss the writing and recording of the song on Song Exploder: http://songexploder.net/nakhane
While his music has brought him major plaudits — including a UK TV performance on Later… With Jools Holland, a Q Awards nomination for Breakthrough Act, an appearance at the Afropunk Festival in Brooklyn, and inclusion in British Vogue’s list of Pop’s Most Influential New Stars — as well as the attention of big-time fans like Madonna and Nile Rodgers, Nakhane is more than just a singer-songwriter and has been described by actor John Cameron Mitchell as “the most exciting new renaissance artist I’ve seen this century.” Nakhane starred in acclaimed, Oscar-shortlisted South African movie Inxeba (The Wound), a role in which he won several awards, including The Best Actor in a Foreign Film Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival. He’s also published a debut novel called ‘Piggy Boy’s Blues.’
Tour Dates:
June 17 — Los Angeles, CA @ School Night
June 20 — Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
June 21 — Toronto, ON @ Toronto Pride
August 14 — New York, NY @ Summerstage Festival (Marcus Garvey Park)
Praise for Nakhane
"The songs on 'You Will Not Die' delve into both trauma and redemption. They ponder faith, pleasure, exile and belonging; they traverse hymns, neo-soul, South African pop and electronic dance music, and Nakhane's voice crests in a vibrant, androgynous falsetto." - The New York Times, 10 Artists to Watch in 2019
"Nakhane has created art which transcends typical pop fodder, addressing the intersection of queerness, blackness, and the eternal." - NPR Music
"One of music's most gifted and singular young creators. His ineffable art-pop is devastatingly sad, romantic, theatrical, and often autobiographical." - PAPER
“There’s an irresistible boldness to the rising South African singer…an LGBTQ trailblazer with a startling voice, in more ways than one.” – The Guardian
“A grand and stunning effort that touches down on queerness, desolation, and spirituality.” – GQ
“Unlike anything you’ll hear this year.” – Q
“A visceral, soul-opening search for solace and self.” – The Quietus
"Unforgettable" - The FADER // "Angelic" - Billboard // "Elegiac" - Stereogum // "Soul-Abiding" - HYPEBEAST
Follow Nakhane
https://www.facebook.com/nakhaneofficial/
For more information, contact James Rainis at Shore Fire Media,
(718) 522-7171