Earlier this year, Kwaai Diva Umlilo performed live at Blooming Sounds from Johannesburg, at Constitutional Hill’s Women’s Prison.
This inter-galactic performance saw Umlilo merge avant-garde gender-bending fashion, dazzling visuals, dance and music set in a futuristic Johannesburg.
Joined by international dance sensations Llewellyn “Lulubelle” Mnguni, Kyle Holland, and the amazing Roberto “Lotion the Star”, Umlilo performed an array of high energy, pulsating electronic songs. The music set the tone for a dark electronica show with elements of soul, punk, hip-hop, kwaito, gqom with queer pop sensibilities. Umlilo captured the spirit of their generation with political musings, queer activism and dance-floor bangers.
Now the full 20-minute concert is available to watch via YouTube:
“With this year being at a standstill because of Covid-19, I wanted to create something inspiring, different, relevant and risky which also showcases my musical range and growth as an artist. I haven’t been able to be on stage many times this year and wanted to do a show that will leave an indelible mark on my fans and the SA music community at large,” says Umlilo.
The 20-minute extravaganza sees Umlilo perform songs from his EP’s Shades of Kwaai and Aluta, which are both available to stream on Spotify.
More about Umlilo
Kwaai Diva Umlilo is a multi-disciplinary artist and the self-proclaimed ”Pioneer of Future Kwaai”.
They merge an avant-garde aesthetic with technology, visual art, dance, film and fashion design. Their music has been playlisted globally, as well as being used as part of a movie soundtrack. Performance as Umlilo provides an outlet to write, produce and perform music and art that inspires people and spark a conversation about the state we are in as human beings.
They say they listen to everything from from bubblegum pop to Maskandi to jazz and kwaito to obscure Bulgarian electro.
WS
