Apple Music Home Session Features Neo-R&B Singer-Songwriter, @OfficialManana

Apple Music’s Home Session features reimagined signature songs and thoughtful covers recorded by artists at home and today, Eswatini-born contemporary R&B maverick Manana (real name Ndumiso Manana) releases his own stripped down Home Session.

“Lockdown taught me that I really love being around people. I guess I knew that about myself before the pandemic hit but I didn’t know how tough it would be until we were all about four months in. All the seclusion gave me an opportunity to learn how to produce my own music. I previously wasn’t as involved on the production side of the songs as much. I think my workflow is a lot more efficient as well, so quite a lot changed,” Manana tells Apple Music. 

“These are my favourite songs to sing right now, songs that were written in a difficult time. ‘Patiently’ and ‘Keep It Up’ (by Rex Orange County) in particular, are two songs that have kept me going through the last few years. I hope my fans on Apple Music will enjoy the tracks.” 

The Home Session EP, available to stream on Apple Music in Spatial Audio, will feature four exclusive unplugged tracks from R&B whizzkid, with “Dance Therapy”, “Pulchritudinous” and “Patiently” from his recently released album But could the moments in between (2022), as well as a cover of Rex Orange County’s warm pop track, “Keep It Up”. 

After making a name for himself as a member of neo-soul group, Seba Kaapstad, and writing songs for established artists like Ami Faku, Amanda Black and Sauti Sol, Manana made the decision to embark on a solo career. His debut EP, In the beginning was the end (2020), is a nostalgic ode to R&B which saw Manana use his own marriage as inspiration and its lead single “Sunday Morning” featuring Rowlene, featured on Apple Music’s Top 100 tracks of 2020.

Discover this exclusive Apple Music Home Session EP today that highlights Manana’s ability to effortlessly integrate jazz melodies with elements of contemporary R&B and soul.