MJ Sings Explores Love, Vulnerability and isiNdebele Culture in Upcoming EP Isoka: The Art of Loving
Bulawayo musician MJ Sings is preparing to explore the many sides of romance with Isoka: The Art of Loving, a forthcoming three-track EP that blends Afropop and contemporary soul with the emotional depth of isiNdebele storytelling. Scheduled for release on 23 October, the project explores the excitement of falling in love, the importance of appreciating a romantic connection and the challenges that arise when relationships become uncertain. Through three carefully developed songs, the Zimbabwean artist aims to create music that reflects real emotions and experiences while celebrating his cultural identity. The EP also represents an opportunity to demonstrate how Zimbabwean languages can communicate universal stories about love, vulnerability and personal growth. For MJ Sings, Isoka is more than a musical release, it is an expression of identity and an invitation for listeners to recognise parts of their own relationships in his songs.
The title Isoka carries a particular meaning within the project’s exploration of romantic relationships. MJ Sings chose the name to represent a man who pursues love, takes emotional risks and learns from the experiences that come with opening his heart to another person. Rather than presenting romance as a perfect experience, the musician wants to acknowledge the mistakes, uncertainties and difficult moments that often accompany genuine affection. His approach recognises that relationships require emotional honesty and a willingness to grow through both positive and painful experiences. By placing these themes at the centre of the EP, MJ Sings hopes to offer listeners a relatable perspective on what it means to love someone while remaining open to the lessons that love can teach.
“Isoka is more than just a title; it represents the man who loves, who takes risks in love, who makes mistakes, and who is willing to be vulnerable for someone he cares about,” the musician explained. He believes that love can be beautiful while also presenting challenges that test people’s patience, understanding and commitment. This balance between joy and vulnerability provides the emotional foundation for the upcoming project. Instead of focusing only on the excitement of romance, the songs also recognise that meaningful relationships involve learning about oneself and another person. Through this perspective, MJ Sings aims to create music that speaks to listeners who have experienced the happiness of falling in love as well as the uncertainty that can follow.
The inspiration behind Isoka: The Art of Loving comes from MJ Sings’ interest in human connection and the emotions that shape romantic relationships. He draws from personal feelings, his own experiences and observations of relationships around him to develop the stories behind his music. Even when a song does not directly recount something he has experienced, he approaches it from an honest emotional perspective. This process allows him to explore situations beyond his immediate circumstances while maintaining a sense of sincerity in his songwriting. His goal is to create songs that feel personal enough to communicate genuine emotion yet open enough for different listeners to interpret them through their own experiences.
The EP will feature three songs titled Finally, Away featuring Bhekiwe and Sabela. Each track contributes to the project’s central theme of love, with the songs designed to explore different aspects of romantic relationships rather than introduce unrelated subjects. MJ Sings explained that he wanted the three tracks to work together as a connected body of work. This approach gives the release a more focused direction and allows him to explore his subject in greater detail within a compact musical format. For listeners, the three-song structure offers an opportunity to experience a collection built around one central idea, with each track contributing to the wider emotional picture.
Finally, Away featuring Bhekiwe and Sabela form the musical foundation of the project, although the artist has not described every song’s individual storyline in detail. The titles provide the framework for a release centred on affection, connection and the challenges that can emerge in relationships. The collaboration with Bhekiwe also brings another artist into the project’s exploration of love and emotional expression. Together, the three tracks are intended to give audiences a clearer understanding of MJ Sings’ artistic identity and his approach to songwriting. By keeping the focus on romance, the musician hopes the EP will offer a consistent listening experience rather than a collection of songs without a shared purpose.
The sound of Isoka combines Afropop influences with contemporary soul, creating a musical setting for the project’s intimate themes. Afropop offers a connection to modern African popular music, while contemporary soul provides room for expressive vocals and emotionally focused songwriting. Bringing these influences together gives MJ Sings a way to explore romance through a sound that feels connected to African musical traditions while remaining accessible to a broad audience. The emphasis on relationships also places the lyrics and emotional delivery at the centre of the listening experience. Rather than relying on a single musical style to define the release, the artist uses the combination of genres to support the stories he wants to tell.
Production on the EP was handled by Bulawayo-based producers Maask and Reneiloe at DAB Three Studios. Their involvement connects the project to the creative community in Bulawayo, where musicians and producers continue to develop sounds that contribute to Zimbabwe’s evolving music industry. Collaboration between artists and producers is an important part of shaping a release, from establishing its sonic direction to ensuring that the music supports the intended mood and message. For an intimate project such as Isoka, the production needs to complement the emotional themes without distracting from the stories being told. The partnership with Maask and Reneiloe therefore forms part of the creative process behind MJ Sings’ effort to present a focused and cohesive musical statement.
A defining feature of the project is its use of isiNdebele to communicate stories about love and relationships. For MJ Sings, embracing his language is both a personal decision and a way to celebrate the culture that shapes his identity as an artist. Music sung in a local language can carry emotional details, expressions and cultural meanings that may be difficult to reproduce in another language. At the same time, themes such as affection, heartbreak, trust and vulnerability can resonate with people regardless of their background. By combining isiNdebele storytelling with contemporary musical influences, MJ Sings hopes to show that Zimbabwean languages can be central to modern music without limiting its appeal to one audience.
The decision to create an isiNdebele-focused project also reflects a wider opportunity for Zimbabwean musicians to bring local languages and experiences to international listeners. Zimbabwe’s musical landscape includes artists who work across different languages and genres, demonstrating the range of stories that can emerge from the country’s communities. Songs rooted in local culture can reach wider audiences when their emotions, production and performances connect with listeners beyond their immediate surroundings. MJ Sings believes Zimbabwean languages and stories deserve a place on the global stage, and Isoka represents his contribution to that ambition. His approach places cultural expression alongside contemporary sound, showing how artists can embrace their roots while developing music for diverse audiences.
Beyond its cultural message, MJ Sings hopes the EP will create a lasting emotional relationship between him and his listeners. He recognises that success in music involves more than streaming figures and numerical milestones. For him, the deeper goal is to create songs that people can connect with during meaningful moments in their lives. A listener might hear a track and remember the beginning of a relationship, while another might find comfort in its account of uncertainty or emotional growth. The artist wants Isoka to become part of those personal experiences, allowing the music to take on meaning beyond the moment of its release.
As the 23 October release date approaches, Isoka: The Art of Loving presents an opportunity for audiences to discover a more intimate side of MJ Sings. The three-track EP brings together Afropop, contemporary soul and isiNdebele storytelling to explore the beauty and complexity of romantic relationships. Its focus on emotional honesty gives the project a clear identity, while its cultural foundation reflects the musician’s desire to represent Zimbabwean stories to a wider audience. With production from Maask and Reneiloe at DAB Three Studios and a guest appearance by Bhekiwe on Away, the release brings together local creative talent in support of a shared artistic vision. Ultimately, MJ Sings wants the music to do more than entertain, he hopes it will help listeners reflect on their own experiences of love and remind them that vulnerability, growth and connection are essential parts of the human experience.
