Mistletone

London based, South African-born powerhouse Nakhane — musician, novelist, actor and queer activist — has announced their return to Australia next March. Fresh from collaborations with Nile Rodgers, Perfume Genius and Moonchild Sanelly, Nakhane is a star in the making, who makes the dancefloor a place of tenderness. Tickets on sale now!

NAKHANE AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:

• FRI MAR 3: SYDNEY WORLDPRIDE @ CITY RECITAL HALL. Tickets on sale here.
• SAT MAR 4: BRISBANE POWERHOUSE. Tickets on sale here.
• SUN MAR 5: PERTH FESTIVAL. Tickets on sale here.
• MAR 10-13: WOMADelaide. Tickets on sale here.
• WED MAR 15: MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE. Tickets on sale here.

Mistletone proudly presents the return of Nakhane, the rapidly-rising South African polymath whose fans include Elton John and Madonna (who name-dropped Nakhane as one of the influences behind her 2019 album Madame X). Multi award winning singer, songwriter, actor, and novelist Nakhane has been hailed as “a real star in the making” (The Observer) who “makes the dancefloor a place of tenderness” (VICE).

Nakhane’s latest single, ‘Do You Well’, brings the funk in a sweaty, sensual collaboration with Perfume Genius, accompanied by a video with explores queer Black love and lust:

It followed hot on the heels of ‘Tell Me Your Politik’, featuring Nile Rodgers on guitar and a ferocious rap from fellow South African artist, Moonchild Sanelly. Mutually political and erotic, the song is a call to action, demanding that prospective lovers be ideogically aligned; a bold declaration that sex is a political act. With a polyrhythmic wall of sound echoing the sounds of South African Gqom and kwaito, these two striking singles are a stunning return to music for Nakhane after a four year break.

Nakhane’s previous album, You Will Not Die, garnered acclaim from Pitchfork, The New York Times, The Observer, MOJO and Noisey; Q magazine called it “remarkable; defiantly modern and unashamedly emotional” while Pitchfork wrote that the album was “an instant revelation on its own terms and strikingly intimate.” Madonna called Nakhane out as one of her two favourite artists, and Elton John interviewed Nakhane on his Beats 1 radio show.

In their many guises in music, film and literature, and as a non binary artist, Nakhane has been instrumental in challenging the status quo in conversations about gender and sexuality; steadily building a body of work of cultural importance that hits every dancefloor sweet spot.

media queries: Sophie Miles @ Mistletone – sophie@mistletone.net

artwork by George Gillies