REVIEW | Instrumentally rich sound, soothing melodies: Uncle Waffles shows her softer side with Solace

Tracklisting: Echoes, Peace & Happiness, Peacock Revisit, Waffles Anthem, Khumbula, Khula, Solace

Drowning in your own hype is a danger that is all too real for creators in the Internet age. You can become a star literally overnight and have your fame implode a month later, becoming another forgotten black hole. To effectively capitalise on the 15 minutes of fame the internet affords, you need to accelerate past the seasonal trends, past the zealous hype, and the novelty to something with an actual lifespan.

Uncle Waffles was able to rise above her short-lived status as an online curio to become a serious figure in SA's music scene, amassing strong streaming numbers, awards and a growing following. Barely three months after her second EP in March, Uncle Waffles has released her third full length project. Solace is a continuation of her previous sonic endeavours but with a stronger sense of self and refinement. Shifting from darker, rhythmic sparseness, Solace sees the young DJ embrace more lush and melodious soundscapes but not yet finding a distinct voice in a saturated scene.

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Uncle Waffles, real name Lungelihle Zwane, went from sharpening her DJ skills during lockdown to a viral sensation because of her dance moves, to performing at Coachella, to receiving music awards and nominations – all in the span of three years. Her sophomore EP, ASYLUM, was a firm statement of her veritable producer abilities, especially in a longer format. Her initial single and EP (Tanzania and Red Dragon, respectively) were already indications of her hit-making potential. ASYLUM cultivated a rhythmically dense and melodically scant sound. Its atmosphere was dark and urban, pulsating with the nocturnal intensity of an inner-city nightclub. But the project still felt like your standard amapiano effort, with minimal flourish or risk. Solace is ASYLUM's antithesis, with an instrumentally rich sound doused in soothing melodies. 

Uncle Waffles gives listeners the other side of her style – one that's softer and more graceful. Maintaining the amapiano framework, she introduces elements of neo-soul, pop and jazz. Each song feels tighter and friendlier to replays. It's still your typical amapiano record, but it doesn't skip on solid musicianship and a more considered approach to collaboration. Having a handful of artists, particularly Ice Beats Slide and Shakes & Les, make frequent appearances across the track list benefits the EP's overall cohesion. Its production is layered with melodies, counter melodies and percussion, which is common in amapiano, but here it serves a pleasurable effect. There still is some fluff; some songs are forgotten the second they stop, particularly Peacock Revisit, Waffles Anthem and Khambula. 

The lead single from Solace, Echoes, turned out to be an appropriate primer for what the record has to offer. The neo-soul influence gels seamlessly with the amapiano percussion. The vocal harmonies are peaceful and serene and almost mimics the softness of a lullaby. The emotional chemistry between Manana and Lusanda evokes a palpable sense of romantic passion. The energy they are creating between them sounds organic. It's a dreamy intro that sets the right mood. The opener is a tough act to follow, but Peace & Happiness is another enjoyable cut on the tracklist. The consciously shaky vocals bring a real feeling of sincerity to the lyrics about gratitude and positivity. The jazzy electric piano brings a welcome flair, but rhythm takes centre stage without being overbearing.

The track Khula returns to lusher soundscapes, with kalimba and piano arpeggios falling like gentle raindrops. The easy-going and repetitive vocals give the song a forward momentum. Next to Echoes, Khula is one of the record's main highlights. Solace concludes with its title track, leaving a sweet taste behind. Here the afro/smooth jazz influences are at their strongest, prominently noted in the clean, quicksilver guitar. Solace is just a really great jazz song with a bouncy beat. This is the song with the most replay value.

As far as follow ups go, Solace is a success since it shows a clear evolution in sound and a purification in music-making skills. Which is impressive since her sophomore only dropped in March. Uncle Waffles has shown that she can hold her own against the producer titans of SA's popular music scene, but now the question is, can she rise above? She's come this far with capitalising on her popularity, and to maintain her rising prominence, she might have to create a distinct voice. Solace is still a satisfying listen on its own, and it stands as a reassurance to a promising career.