After a seven-month break, Sizwe ‘SZWÉ’ Chitiyo is back with a new album, Save Our Souls. Originally from Harare, Zimbabwe, and now based in South Wales, the 26-year-old artist has been garnering attention in Wales with his heartfelt lyrics. His ‘early bedroom’ album garnered over 250,000 streams and received acclaim from BBC Radio 1, 1XTRA, and Spotify’s editorial playlists. In 2022, SZWÉ earned the IMS Best Documentary Award for his BBC Short Documentary “The Honey Sessions Mixtape,” a project that featured the Welsh Music Of Black Origin scene.
Save Our Souls marks growth in SZWÉ’s career. The album is an ode to his personal experiences and emotions, narrating self-belief, love, overcoming grief, disappointment in government during times of war, and defying expectations. It’s a culmination of his experiences as a new father, the loss of a father, and the celebration of oneself in the face of adversity.
The artist’s love for music began with acoustic performances and transitioned into electronic production. With this album, he pushes the boundaries of Welsh Music of Black Origin even further. Tracks like “SAVE OUR SOULS” and “CAUTIOUS” offer smooth R&B melodies alongside introspective rap verses, while “FAVOUR” and “YOURS FOREVER” reveal both affection and vulnerability.
“This album represents a significant chapter in my life, capturing the experiences and emotions over the past few years, My hope is that, through sharing these stories, listeners will find their own moments of connection and understanding.”
In the opening track “SAVE OUR SOULS,” SZWÉ uses soulful R&B and gritty hip-hop to confront his struggles, singing, “I’ve been down on my knees, Lord please save our souls—I don’t know what you have for me.” This sentiment captures the album’s themes of uncertainty and faith. Meanwhile, “FAVOUR” explores the complexities of past relationships with the line, “Used to be lovers, still owe you a favour,” and “YOURS FOREVER” feels like a heartfelt message to a loved one.
A particularly touching moment on the record is the track, ‘UNCLES ADVICE,’ which features a recording of SZWÉ’s uncle offering encouragement and questioning why he had stepped away from music, adding emotional depth to the body of work that features collaborations with JayaHadADream and The Honest Poet, whose contributions enrich the already diverse sound of the record.
Critics have taken note of SZWÉ’s talent and versatility. Adam Walton of BBC Radio Wales describes him as “an extremely talented and versatile individual,” while Bethan Elfyn remarks,“I never know what to expect from SZWÉ, he’s got a lot of skill in what he does. An excellent singer, rapper, writer, producer and person—- true maverick at what he does.”
On Save Our Souls, SZWÉ offers a compelling narrative and invites listeners to share in the personal experiences that have shaped his music, emphasising, “As a listener, I urge you to digest this album with curiosity before you approach it with judgment.
Listen to SZWE’s new album Save Our Souls
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Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo
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