Roland Leesker, Sobantwana - Afunukuthula

Roland Leesker is Get Physical's creative director and the powerhouse behind the label both as an A&R and producer. His new album 'Searching For Peace' arrives later this year and is a testament to his versatile, widescreen house sound. In the past, he has hooked up with stars of the scene like DJ Pierre, Roland Clark and Terrence Parker, but here he works with Sobantwana. She hails from "the valley of a thousand hills" in a small town, Tsolo, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, and her music is a fusion of eclectic soul, smart songwriting and stirring Afro house.

Their sublime track was inspired by a magical interaction in the studio with ‘Honey’, the infant daughter of Roland’s production partner, Neil Barber. Roland then passed the instrumental to Sobantwana, who wrote heartfelt lyrics in her native Xhosa tongue about the search for peace through the eyes of a mother. The song uses the flow of water as a metaphor for the flow of love and how it cannot be stopped when a new baby arrives in anyone's life.

Around those moving lyrics, which are delivered with such genuine charm, 'Afunukuthula' has soft shakers and plaintive piano keys that make for a romantic late-night mood. The organic percussion and subtle synth pulses all heighten the emotions and will get dancers in a trance. A Balearic Version brings sweeping synths and downbeat grooves that will sound perfect by the beach, in the sun, on a boat, or just about anywhere this summer.

Remixer Terry Grant has worked with a who's who of labels from Bedrock to Plastic City, and with artists like Pezzner and Luke Solomon. He has covered plenty of ground in that time and with this remix, he keeps things deep and moody, with a menacing synth motif offset by the heavenly vocals and bright, hopeful keys.