Continuing her run of good form alongside long-time producers Dlala Thukzin and Funky QLA, South African 3-Step doyene Zee Nxumalo released her short and sweet treat titled Izinja Zam: Vol. 1 – EP. Following up her full-length sophomore Inja Ye Game (2024), the extended play augments her already-established catalogue while capitalising on the reign of the genre and the overall hype appendant to her name.
With production primarily steered by Thukzin and QLA, Izinja Zam: Vol. 1 is a three-step drop tempered with sonic attributes of afro-house, electronic, and soul music. Four tracks long and with 25 minutes of playback time, the sound that backs the songwriting is familiar territory that verges on safety but healthily stops short of being comfortable.
Izinja Zam Vol. 1 – EP cover art | SUPPLIED
From the synth-based offering with xylophonic thumps which comes in the shape of “Guqa” to the club-ready, bouncy, and forceful production of “Aweh Mah 2.0”, the EP is a tightly packed audio sandwich crammed with a little bit of this, and some of that, resulting in a surprising burst of variety that doesn’t catch the ear off-guard with too much whiplash.
The feature selection is deliberate, with each contribution making sense for the vibe the song conjures up.
SAMA-winning stars Young Stunna and Blxckie, who once came together for the global hit of K.O’s “SETE.”, serve as antipodes of each other on “Aweh Mah 2.0”, with the former making luxury life boasts with his facile performance while the latter’s languid delivery complements Stunna’s entry.
Zee Nxumalo | SUPPLIED
Sino Msolo and TBO, on the other hand, wear their hearts on their spiritual sleeves on the prayerful songs “Bawo” and “Guqa”, respectively, balancing out the EP’s themes of groove culture and club life with songwriting predicated on divine guidance, prayer, and treatises served to the gods.
Yet, even with the stellar guest list, Zee doesn’t lose her place in the EP. Her performances and writing on the project are somewhat subtly more subdued, lacking her signature energy. However, this deficiency takes nothing away from her presence, if anything it serves the album well with consistent displays of controlled artistry that seeks to let the album be what it is, rather than forcing her place and overplaying her capabilities.
Zee Nxumalo | SUPPLIED
This project has the feel of an appetiser—and not, all at once, because of its filling nature despite its obvious brevity. Whatever the case may be, Nxumalo has delivered a parvum opus that indicates that there still is a lot of wind in her sails and that there’s much left to be explored on the creative side of things.
Preview the EP:
