Biography

Amandawe (South Africa) based artist Desire Marea will release his second solo album, On the Romance of Being, on Mute in April 2023. After a recent calling to train as Sangoma - a traditional Nguni spiritual healer – the album is immersed in the communal, ceremonial and healing qualities of music. His 2020 debut album, Desire, was one of Rough Trade’s Albums of the Year and BBC 6Music’s Album of the Day. The album drew in fans from across the globe, including Grace Jones,who went on to invite Desire to perform at her Meltdown Festival at London’s Southbank Centre. Before his solo career, Desire formed beloved Joburg collective FAKA with creative partner Fela Gucci. FAKA toured the world extensively, scored the Telfar show for NYFW, partnered with Versace to soundtrack their S/S 2019 menswear show and were featured in the Vogue World 100 and Dazed 100 lists.