Veteran musician Jeys Marabini collaborates with young artists for his tenth studio album Umjolo, scheduled for release on July 31. Producer Nathaniel Chipunza, known as Oktopus, leads the team of emerging musicians who persuaded Marabini to explore unfamiliar musical territory. The collaboration represents a deliberate fusion between traditional and contemporary sounds that challenged the established artist. Marabini admits the recording process created tension as younger collaborators pushed him toward topics and styles he had never attempted. The veteran performer embraces this generational bridge as essential for his artistic evolution.
The ten-track collection marks seven years since Marabini's previous release in 2018. Each song receives dedicated music video treatment, breaking from his past practice of selective visual accompaniment. Brass instrumentation appears throughout the album, targeting diverse audiences across age groups. Marabini abandons conventional album launch events, preferring audiences develop familiarity with the material before live performances. This strategic approach allows listeners to establish personal connections with individual tracks before experiencing them in concert settings.
The ten-track collection marks seven years since Marabini's previous release in 2018. Each song receives dedicated music video treatment, breaking from his past practice of selective visual accompaniment. Brass instrumentation appears throughout the album, targeting diverse audiences across age groups. Marabini abandons conventional album launch events, preferring audiences develop familiarity with the material before live performances. This strategic approach allows listeners to establish personal connections with individual tracks before experiencing them in concert settings.
