Episode 155: Nakhane

“New Brighton” (feat. Anohni)

 

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Nakhane is a singer and songwriter from Johannesburg, South Africa. His first album, Brave Confusion, won the South African Music Award for best alternative album in 2014. He starred in the award-winning film “The Wound,” which was shortlisted for the Oscar for Best Foreign Film.

Nakhane’s second album was originally released in 2018, and then released in the US in 2019, as a deluxe version. The deluxe version includes this song, “New Brighton,” featuring guest vocals from Anohni. In this episode, as Nakhane breaks the song down, he talks about his complicated relationship with Christianity, why the song wasn’t on the original version of the album, and what it was like to work with one of his musical heroes.

Buy or stream “New Brighton” here, and watch the music video below.

For a transcript of this episode, click here.

Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes
“Bring Him Back Home (Nelson Mandela)” – Hugh Masekela
“The National Anthem” – Radiohead
Port Elizabeth
Fort Frederick
“Hope There’s Someone” – Antony & the Johnsons