For Your Ears Only is a weekly music column here on FEMME MAG exploring the different sounds, range and depth from women across the continent. Check back here every Wednesday for our curated 5-track list of what we’ve specially picked for you!
Valentine is coming! And everyone keeps asking, “where’s your boyfriend?” instead of “what’s your account number?”. Smh. If you’ve got a special somebody, a rotation of somebodies or nobody to spend the day with, that’s all good because this week’s playlist has to do with just you! Yup, you guessed it, self-love. I’ve rounded up 5 songs to inspire yourself to show yourself a little care and love this week. Sit back, relax and get into this list.
Roses – VanJess
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Let’s kick this off with some new-new. Nigerian-American duo VanJess just released their Homegrown album, and it’s perfect for just relaxing. Roses boasts slick, seductive production that will make you feel sexy in your skin. Paired with honeyed vocals from Ivana and Jessica, and lyrics about being as delicate as a rose (without that being framed as a bad thing), Roses will put you in the mood to be soft and sweet to yourself.
F*ck Boys, Kiss Girls – SOLIS
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In my opinion, F*ck Boys, Kiss Girls isn’t even really about kissing other girls (I mean, it’s very much about that too) but it’s also about rejecting toxic love from other people. The girl you’re kissing could even be your own reflection in the mirror. It’s just about knowing that no one is deserving of all those tears and sleepless nights. SOLIS’ dreamy, bedroom pop is for those more quiet, self-reflective moments you have when no one is around. Stream her project Ruled by Venus, Unfortunately for a clear mind.
Mo Yato – Tomilola
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Mo Yato (which roughly translates to “I’m different”) is a song about stepping into the person that you are, even when being that person means you stand out of the crowd a little bit. Mo Yato is a feel-good song, from the light and breezy instrumental (from the piano work right down to the lighthearted whistling that threads in and out of the song), to Tomilola’s warm vocals. Part of the work of self-love is being able to look at every inch of yourself and accept what you see (including the parts of yourself that you may feel ashamed of, or even the bits that you want to work on), and Mo Yato captures that moment when you can say “this is who I am”, with your head held high.
Dive – Efe Oraka
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Efe Oraka recently released the MAGIC EP, and as the name implies, it is whimsical and driven by honest storytelling (and downright magical vocals from Oraka herself). Dive is an encouraging rootsy-rock song about living your life to the fullest, even though life is full of so many unexpected twists and turns. Dive is about trusting your own inner voice, moving away from being too hard on yourself and looking to other people to do the work for you. Whether the work is self-love, or a dream that you’re pursuing, the best way to reach your goals is to trust your own journey.
Thunda Thighs – Moonchild Sanelly
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Thunda Thighs by South African “future ghetto punk” artist Moonchild Sanelly is a club banger about…well, thunder thighs (among other times). Reclaiming her own body, Sanelly floats on this amapiano beat. Listening to this you can’t help but get up, shake your body and get into this song.
