Desire Marea Set To Release The Baddies Of Isandlwana

27 Sep

Desire Marea born Buyani Duma is a dynamic and influential artist who defies conventional norms and expectations. Off the back of releasing his lead single “If You Know”, Desire aims to create a dialogue that transcends the bounds of queer activism through quintessential euphoric pop. Earlier this year, he released his second studio album On The Romance Of Being which takes us seamlessly from melancholic moments, ethereal vocals, and hypnotic sounds, to dreamy spiritual synths. Set for bigger and better things as 2023 draws to a close, Desire Marea is set to release his EP titled The Baddies Of Isandlwana on the 9th of November.

Initially, he was set to call his EP Isifebe Sika Shaka but eventually changed it to The Baddies Of Isandlwana. Desire Marea unpacks all that we need to know about his upcoming EP. “With the title of this EP, I want to honour and pay tribute to the queer warriors who fought and died in the battle of Isandlwana. It would be a humble assumption that there were no queer people in the Isandlwana regiments era. I could’ve gone on and named my EP Isfebe Sika Shaka because I know it’d be provocative but I figured that the historical context of this project would be lost,” he shares.

Trained as a Sangoma, Desire taps into spiritual and ancestral connections through his music. It’s no surprise that there’s so much healing and comfort when you listen to his music. His music is best described as an infusement of spiritual jazz, ancient Nguni and Ndau. He further notes that he’s probably one of the most unrelatable artists as his music is not what people would describe as commercial because he doesn’t follow trends when it comes to making music. “For as much as AmaPiano is a beautiful genre, I didn’t want to jump on the AmaPiano boat. I create work that is true to me. I’m more invested in creating new sounds that encapsulate the world and creating music that will still be relevant for generations to come,” he further explains.

He touches on how fulfilling it’s been to work on his EP. “I’m pretty excited for this body of work and can’t wait for it to come out. As much as I have a team that I trust and am forever thankful for, I’m always hands-on with my work. Be it writing and conceptualising visuals or art direction, this EP is no different,” Desire says. With the enchanting visuals of his lead single, “If You Know”, he mentions that he briefed his creative director on the kind of theme and style he was going for and Triana Amazonas took it to another level!

On The Value Of Albums & EPs

Given the state of music consumption nowadays, entertainment commentators have argued that since the introduction of streaming services and TikTok trends, the market doesn’t have an appetite for a full body of work anymore. Now, in a world that’s always hyped up for what’s next, Desire Marea notes, “we’re losing the essence of music. Albums were truly valued and had prominence from the 60s until the early 2000s but now the market is killing music. We’re forced to adhere to what makes sense from the market perspective. However, I don’t want to release music based on what sells because that alone is bound to make me lose the true essence of why I started making music.”

Just a few months apart, Desire speaks on the evolution of his 2023 album release and his upcoming EP. “I believe every artist’s body of work represents a certain era in their lives. The Romance Of Being was more of a spiritual offering for me compared to The Baddies Of Isandlwana. The current project that I’m working on is more fun and lighter.”

Upcoming International Tour

One of Desire Marea’s most significant contributions to the music industry is the way they openly address and challenge cultural norms and stereotypes through visuals and performances. He’s set to tour the world from October until November. “Beyond being a musician, I’m a performing artist. I like being on stage and being one with the crowd. I’ve been blessed enough to be given platforms where I get to showcase what my music truly stands for. There’s magic when you create from a genuine place and that magic reflects on stage,” the musician enthuses.

In his solo career, this is his first biggest tour after he parted ways with FAKA, his previous music band. “I’m doing a lot of preparations right now. My ultimate goal is to represent what Africa has to offer in the space of experimental music. Touring for me is the old way of being one with music lovers. The likes of Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin really understood the craft of showmanship and that’s exactly the kind of impact I want to have.” When it comes to stage performance, authenticity carries more emotional resonance above all else and for Desire Marea this is instinctual.

One of Desire Marea’s career bucket list items is to win a Grammy! We can’t wait for this star’s dream to manifest into their reality.