‘Matters of the Heart’ explores mental health, culture and healing
New addition to her discography
The album is a deeply personal work of art that showcases ML's growth as an artist, and her commitment to delivering music that resonates with her audience.
Singer and songwriter ML released her highly anticipated fifth studio album, ‘Matters of the Heart’, on all major streaming platforms today.
The album promises to take listeners on an emotional journey through mental health, culture and healing.
Sharing the sonic trajectory she took on this project, ML mentioned that as she fell in love more and more with various sounds - particularly Afro-beats and Afropop - she was lucky connect with Deon Negumbo.
The 20-year-old producer worked on the overall feel of the album.
“He has exposure to Namibian sounds and what’s happening in Africa and on a global level. He was able to give me a unique fusion that worked very well with my rhythm.
“I have also experimented with the new wave of amapiano. This genre has been my favourite since its emergence, and I had the privilege of working with one of South Africa’s big amapiano producers and DJs, DJ Karri. That track features Dayoo from Tanzania, and it was interesting to work on as it was out of my comfort zone,” she said.
Labour of love
The singer’s latest album is a labour of love that took time to compile, and she said she was careful to curate its messaging carefully.
With ‘Matters of the Heart,’ ML hopes to touch the hearts of her fans and inspire them to embrace their vulnerabilities and find solace in music.
“Overall, I wanted to still make music with soul and soothing sounds for everyone who still appreciates soulful music that speaks to the mind and heart.”
For this project, ML is also credited as a producer.
When asked about this, she noted that she has done a lot of research to understand intellectual property in music and this involves being credited for one’s contribution to a song.
She mentioned that all the songs she co-produced are credited accordingly, and adding that this involves concept development and direction of the beat.
“I realised that my contribution as per the intellectual property rights equates to co-producing, and this year, I was bold enough to highlight my contribution in the making of those beats. I actually co-produced a total of six songs on this album.”
She further revealed that she bought a studio this year and is finally setting up a fully-fledged space where she can develop other artists – whether under her label or just by providing studio services.
“I am learning production for myself for now, so I influence the quality and direction of my music,” she said.
Heritage
Wrapping up the conversation with tjil, ML touched on how her Namibian heritage informs her music and songwriting.
Her rhythm and lyrics strongly reflect her culture, she said.
“There’s always an ML element in my music which traces back to my roots, influence and my inspiration reference.
“The quality and sound can change for better, but my voice is always present and loud.”
ML added that ‘Matters of the Heart’ is testament to her growth as an artist and her commitment to using music as a tool for healing.
The album promises to take listeners on an emotional journey through mental health, culture and healing.
Sharing the sonic trajectory she took on this project, ML mentioned that as she fell in love more and more with various sounds - particularly Afro-beats and Afropop - she was lucky connect with Deon Negumbo.
The 20-year-old producer worked on the overall feel of the album.
“He has exposure to Namibian sounds and what’s happening in Africa and on a global level. He was able to give me a unique fusion that worked very well with my rhythm.
“I have also experimented with the new wave of amapiano. This genre has been my favourite since its emergence, and I had the privilege of working with one of South Africa’s big amapiano producers and DJs, DJ Karri. That track features Dayoo from Tanzania, and it was interesting to work on as it was out of my comfort zone,” she said.
Labour of love
The singer’s latest album is a labour of love that took time to compile, and she said she was careful to curate its messaging carefully.
With ‘Matters of the Heart,’ ML hopes to touch the hearts of her fans and inspire them to embrace their vulnerabilities and find solace in music.
“Overall, I wanted to still make music with soul and soothing sounds for everyone who still appreciates soulful music that speaks to the mind and heart.”
For this project, ML is also credited as a producer.
When asked about this, she noted that she has done a lot of research to understand intellectual property in music and this involves being credited for one’s contribution to a song.
She mentioned that all the songs she co-produced are credited accordingly, and adding that this involves concept development and direction of the beat.
“I realised that my contribution as per the intellectual property rights equates to co-producing, and this year, I was bold enough to highlight my contribution in the making of those beats. I actually co-produced a total of six songs on this album.”
She further revealed that she bought a studio this year and is finally setting up a fully-fledged space where she can develop other artists – whether under her label or just by providing studio services.
“I am learning production for myself for now, so I influence the quality and direction of my music,” she said.
Heritage
Wrapping up the conversation with tjil, ML touched on how her Namibian heritage informs her music and songwriting.
Her rhythm and lyrics strongly reflect her culture, she said.
“There’s always an ML element in my music which traces back to my roots, influence and my inspiration reference.
“The quality and sound can change for better, but my voice is always present and loud.”
ML added that ‘Matters of the Heart’ is testament to her growth as an artist and her commitment to using music as a tool for healing.
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