Marshall Stain Releases New Afrobeats Break Up Single 'ZOMBIE'

After honing into the production, songwriting and vocal prowess of his musical pallet influenced by Afro-pop instrumental underpinnings, South African singer-songwriter Marshall Stain has penned a melodic Afrobeats tune about the loss of love titled, ‘ZOMBIE'.

Poised to be a strong contender for a 2022 summer anthem, the Aymix produced single is an addictive melting pot of Afrobeats and Amapiano influences. ‘ZOMBIE’ is a sonic journey about love dystopia through the lens of a man who has experienced a sordid break-up with an ex-lover, leaving him with the lobotomizing feeling of wishing the love never existed at all. 

“ZOMBIE’ is a song for the past and the future. Similar to how Zombies are fictional characters and don’t physically exist, I’m telling an old lover — and a future one, that if we ever had to part ways, I would like to imagine that they never existed.” says Marshall Stain. Thematically, Marshall Stain utilized his sonic arrangement to evoke a mirror of an emotional experience between him and his listener. Depicting each sentiment as he imagined the narrative arch of the EP.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Marshall Stain’s (22) vocal aptness was harnessed from as young as five years old, where he used to sing in church. It was in 2014 when the young musician took a more conscientious approach and started recording hip-hop, interchanging between rapping, and singing. The years that followed consisted of the indie artist releasing music under his own label “[K]NEW*STAIN” where he would frequently collaborate with friends — most notably alongside rapper and “[K]NEW*STAIN” label mate Joy Bumble. Taking inspiration from a myriad of genres, categorically from the UK Afroswing era, the orchestral beguile of Afrobeats captured the singer’s heart. Now, Marshall Stain is bursting onto the scene with a 5 track EP titled “VILLAIN YOU LOVE” that is a delectable combination of a lyrically laden, genre-bending production. 

You can stream the lead single below: