South African singer Samthing Soweto has released his new album, ‘Touch is a Move (Good Morning).’ The record, his first in almost five years, is a long-awaited follow-up to his award-winning album ‘Isphithiphithi.’ Even though Samthing Soweto had already found some success early in his career with the popular a cappella group, The Soil, it was his solo 2019 release that helped etch his name into South Africa’s musical history books. 

With ‘Isphithiphithi,’ Samthing Soweto bagged Best Afropop Album award at the 2020 South African Music Awards, and he became the first South African artist to simultaneously hold the top spot on Apple Music’s South African singles and album charts. While the 37-year-old vocalist borrowed heavily from Pop and Amapiano to create ‘Isphithiphithi,’ he’s returned to his Soul, Jazz, and a cappella roots on ‘Touch is a Move.’ 

‘Touch Is a Move (Good Morning)’ was inspired by a childhood rule from playing board games that stated that once you touched a piece in any game, you had to play it. Across the album’s 17 tracks, the Johannesburg native set his melodious ruminations about family, fatherhood, and love to soothing production courtesy of names like John Lundun, Ross Darkin, Christer Kobedi, and Soweto himself. 

The album features standouts like the smooth “Don’t Wanna Let Go” and Blxckie-assisted “Ama Get Down.” “Deda,” a moving ballad that reflects the internal conflict of loving someone who is drawn to nightlife is another album highlight while “Amagent,” a more heartfelt number, functions as both a tender dedication to his daughter as well as a stirring call to action, imploring a generation to step up and actively protect its women. 

Along with his sublime voice, which hasn’t lost any of its texture and tenderness, and a couple of interludes and skits (“Sister Sister 1,” “Sister Sister 2,” “Bhut’Lungisa 1,” and “Bhut’Lungisa 2,”) meticulously inserted across the project, Samthing Soweto delivers another album that carries the emotional poignancy and soothing feeling that his music has become popular for. 

Listen to ‘Touch Is a Move (Good Morning)’ here.