Rising star Viwo Kulati has released an inspiring new single in hopes of leading people back to the old way of building relationships.
Kulati wrote the song “Nguwe Wedwa” after observing the culture of relationships in South Africa.
“There’s this thing about people wanting to enter relationships that are already built. They don’t want to build with each other any more, so the song is trying to bring back the culture of building with one another.
“Sometimes you won’t get into a relationship where everything is good, you will need to go through the struggles and support and build with each other so that a success story is made of the relationship.
“It’s about surrounding ourselves with individuals who can genuinely see our potential and are committed to supporting us as we pursue our dreams. It worked for our parents, so we can also do it,” said the “Love” EP hitmaker.
With its captivating melody and poignant lyrics, the track encourages listeners to recognise and cherish those who truly believe in them.
The song also features former “Idols SA” finalist and musician Brandon Dhludhlu.
“I was recording the song alone, when I realised that the second verse needed another voice, a male voice, so I hit up Brandon to help me bring back that culture of building together.
“It’s the first time we’ve collaborated, but we’ve kept tabs on each other since we met at ‘Idols SA’ in 2017. This year felt like the right time to work together,” said Kulati.
She added that working with Dhludhlu was such a pleasure.
“He is so efficient and so humble. When I approached him, I asked myself if I am ready for his demands, because you know how big stars are, but he didn’t have any … Working with each other was so smooth and I feel like our voices complement each other.”
For the song’s sonics, Kulati worked with a producer from Gqeberha. She told him what she wanted, and he didn’t disappoint.
“I wanted to do a 3-step sound, but it had to have soul in it. I needed it to sound like a deep house song.
“He went off, and brought back something that was perfect. I wanted it to sound like a typical love song, and it did. I didn’t want to over-complicate it,” she shared.
Kulati’s hopes that the new single makes listeners want to fall in love, or if they are already in love, to continue to build on their relationship.
“I love, love. I’m a hopeless romantic, so I just want people to believe in love. I want them to really believe that they can find that special person whom they can share their life with.
“Even if they have given up on love, I really want them to open up their hearts again,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dhludhlu shared that collaborating with Kulati has been an extraordinary experience.
“The message of ‘Nguwe Wedwa’ resonates deeply with me, and I hope it inspires others to value the meaningful connections in their lives.”
To accompany the song, the two have embarked on their “Rise Above” tour, which is a transformative initiative aimed at uplifting and inspiring audiences throughout South Africa.
They will take their message of resilience to Makhanda on Sunday, October 6, before culminating in a spectacular finale at Selective Live in Cape Town on Friday, October 11.
Listen to ‘Nguwe Wedwa’ below.