SINGER and broadcaster Unathi Nkayi is making her long-awaited return to music after nearly a decade.
The 47-year-old star is set to release a new single, Isikhwele, on Friday, 12 June, ahead of her upcoming album, African Love, which is expected later this spring.
The release marks Unathi's first major music project since her 2017 album, Brave, True and Strong.
For her comeback single, Unathi has teamed up with kwaito legend Professor and rising artist Meez.
The song explores jealousy in relationships and forms part of what she describes as a new chapter in her creative journey.
The single will be accompanied by a visually striking music video that Unathi creatively directed and executive produced herself.
The star said she wanted her return to music to reflect her growth as an artist and storyteller.
"I'm really proud of how I've grown and evolved creatively, especially in a time where everything moves so fast with technology and the fourth industrial revolution. For me, it didn't feel right to just drop a dance challenge and move on.
"I've always been known for telling deeper stories, and I wanted this release to reflect that," she said.
In addition to the music video, Unathi has partnered with acclaimed photographer Nick Boulton for The Isikhwele Series, a digital visual project that will preserve and extend the life of the fashion and creative concepts featured in the video.
She said her broadcasting background also influenced the way she approached the project.
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"I wanted to bring in my broadcasting knowledge and experience on this video. I wanted to tell a story through the film. I wanted to express myself in the creative direction, storyline, editing and styling. I wanted to show how my artistry has evolved," she said.
Unathi also opened up about why she stepped away from music and what inspired her return.
"I have not been in a space to create for some time now. Given the loss of my father and wanting to focus on my children, I took some time to regulate myself creatively. I've admired Professor for years and wanted to release something meaningful before I release the full album this spring," Unathi said.
She stated that she has partnered with Loud in Africa.
"I've joined forces with Loud in Africa, a global digital platform for all my upcoming work for global release, as it acts as a conduit for African stories to the world," she added.
