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Kwazikwakhe Mabaso, better known as Kwazi M, is an alternative R&B artist from Soweto whose music exists at the intersection of vulnerability, elegance and quiet confidence. When asked to describe herself, she says, “Kwazi M is just a girl with a soft heart, a sharp vision, and songs that sound like a late-night conversation.”
That description perfectly captures the atmosphere of her latest EP, uBuhle. Tracks like Drive and 10 Missed Calls feel intimate and reflective, inviting listeners into conversations that unfold after midnight—when emotions are honest, and silence carries as much weight as words.
Kwazi M’s musical journey began unexpectedly. Inspired by a community radio station she started with friends, she found herself recording her first song, Perfect, in 2020. What started as curiosity quickly evolved into one of South Africa’s most promising voices in alternative R&B.
Before the release of uBuhle, Kwazi M steadily built her reputation through appearances on notable projects including A-Reece’s Business As Usual and DJ Clen’s TOO VIRAL and All Is Fair. Those collaborations introduced audiences to her distinct vocal presence, but she has always envisioned something much bigger.
“I’m working on making sure that they tell the whole planet about me. When you hug a tree, sing my songs to it.”
It’s an ambitious statement, yet one that reflects the quiet confidence woven throughout her artistry.
uBuhle arrives as Kwazi M’s first solo project since her 2023 EP, Solo Conversations. That earlier release explored themes of love, ambition, self-discovery, and personal growth through dreamy, melodic records like Fantasy, Daydream, Spring, and Whatever.
Rather than feeling like a completely new chapter, uBuhle feels like a natural continuation.
The connection is immediately evident through the visual identity of both projects. Each cover embraces monochromatic black-and-white photography with a timeless, retro aesthetic. While Solo Conversations introduced listeners to Kwazi M’s intimate world, uBuhle expands upon it.
The artwork portrays her seated in the backseat of a luxurious vintage car with leather interiors, while the title uBuhle—the isiZulu word for “beauty”—is repeated across the cover like an affirmation.
During an interview, Kwazi M revealed that the project was named after her son, giving the title an even deeper personal significance.
She explained the creative vision behind the artwork, “The idea behind the uBuhle cover art was to show that there’s beauty in all things. We wanted to capture luxury, softness, elegance, divinity, and timelessness—things society often positions as distant from township femininity unless they’re overly performed.”
The imagery perfectly complements the music, reinforcing the project’s central message: beauty exists in authenticity, softness, and self-acceptance.
uBuhle was released through Revenge Club Records (RCR), the label founded by Jay Jody and A-Reece.
Over the years, RCR has developed a catalogue defined by artistic integrity and high-quality curation. Projects such as Jay Jody’s Sunset Stories, A-Reece’s DEADLINE FREE: P2, and DJ Clen’s Viral have helped establish the label as one of South Africa’s most respected independent creative collectives.
uBuhle now joins that growing catalogue as another carefully curated body of work. Across six tracks, Kwazi M carries the entire project without a single guest feature. Rather than relying on collaborations, uBuhle allows her voice to remain the focal point—soft yet commanding, delicate yet assured.
Asked why she chose not to include features, she responded with characteristic confidence, “Yes, I’m too God-level to just be known by features. In fact, when I’m featured, you should think, ‘Damn, that artist is blessed.'” That confidence is backed by a project strong enough to stand entirely on its own.
The EP opens with Tourist, immediately setting the emotional tone. A hypnotic instrumental layered with choral textures gradually builds before Kwazi M enters with an uplifting message about embracing imperfections while navigating life’s challenges.
“Picture perfect in her sweats, living life with no regrets. She’s so cool, she’s a beaut’, she’s a queen and nothing less… But sometimes she looks like a mess.”
It’s an anthem of resilience, reminding listeners that confidence and vulnerability can exist simultaneously.
Throughout uBuhle, Kwazi M effortlessly blends alternative R&B with elements of hip-hop and jazz.
Tourist rides atop a soulful yet bouncy rhythm, allowing her to switch between melodic phrasing and confident rap-inspired delivery.
Meanwhile, Kuphelile and Uzubuye slow the tempo, embracing nostalgic guitar arrangements, warm percussion and layered harmonies that create lush jazz-inspired textures.
When asked about her influences, she offered an unexpected pairing, “I’d say Letta Mbulu. OMW, all her albums are goated… and Lil Tunechi. That’s my man right there.”
That combination of timeless jazz and fearless hip-hop experimentation is audible throughout the project.
Creating uBuhle required an exceptional team of collaborators. Superium Beatz produced every instrumental on the EP, continuing a résumé that includes work on projects by Jay Jody, DJ Clen, Saint Cielo, and Kalee G.
DJ Clen played an equally important role, overseeing beat selection, recording sessions, and overall song refinement. His meticulous approach to curation has become a defining characteristic across projects, including VIRAL, TOO VIRAL, All Is Fair, and The Only Way Up. The sonic polish comes courtesy of Zephbeats, whose mixing and mastering elevate every track.
As Kwazi M puts it, “He sonically made every song sound as dreamy as they do.”
Every element occupies its own space. The energetic production on Tourist never overpowers her vocals, while the layered harmonies remain clear and immersive throughout the project. The consistency in engineering allows the EP to feel cohesive from beginning to end.
uBuhle succeeds not only sonically but visually. A-Reece’s creative direction played a significant role in shaping the project’s cinematic identity. “The car driving by on ‘Pull Up’ into ‘Drive’ was all his ideas. The cover art and visualizer were his idea, too.”
Anyone familiar with projects such as ‘Today’s Tragedy, Tomorrow’s Memory’, ‘The Burning Tree’, ‘DEADLINE FREE: P2’ and ‘Kill The King’ understands A-Reece’s commitment to visual storytelling long before listeners hear the first song.
That vision was brought to life by renowned visual creative Blueswahn, whose portfolio includes iconic artwork and photography for artists such as A-Reece on ‘Business as usual’, La Cabra on ‘Mr Bully’, and many more.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Kwazi M shared, “Making the images timeless on film was just brilliant. According to Blue’s eyes, I’m gorgeous. He also suggested that I handwrite the cover with a gold pen. He’s also behind the Kuphelile visualizer. Sheila captured all the behind-the-scenes moments perfectly.”
Together, the visual team created imagery that mirrors the music’s themes of softness, elegance and timelessness.
uBuhle is more than an EP—it is an artistic statement. It demonstrates that vulnerability can coexist with confidence, that elegance does not need to be loud, and that some of the most powerful stories are told through subtlety.
With thoughtful songwriting, immersive production and meticulous visual direction, Kwazi M delivers a project that feels cohesive in every sense. While Solo Conversations introduced listeners to her world, uBuhle expands it with greater confidence, deeper storytelling and a stronger artistic identity.
For an artist still early in her career, uBuhle feels less like an arrival and more like the beginning of something much bigger.
