This morning, as I was queuing up in Fira Barcelona for my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I was reflecting on the last time I was in this venue-turned-medical centre. I realised it was 2019, simpler times, I was attending Sonar By Day and I was about to accidentally discover one of my favourite new artists – Desire Marea.

Armed with my VIP Press Pass, I stumbled across Kwazulu-natal born, multi-disciplinary artist Desire Marea – performing as one part of the duo FAKA. The show was fire, the music was right, the looks were everything and the crowd was living for it. The crowd of one that is – me. I was there watching their soundcheck all on my own and just that brief rehearsal, that private show, just for me, was my standout moment for Sonar 2019. It lives rent-free in my mind even now.

Since that moment two years ago, I haven’t stopped thinking about Desire. Meanwhile Desire has been keeping the children fed! They’ve steadily been releasing material, culminating in the drop of their self-titled debut, Desire, released on 6th August via Mute.

Not only that but today we get the video for my favourite track, ‘Tavern Kween.’ The song begins with Desire calling to us, whispering, moaning over a minimal production – then the beat drops, they switch it up to falsetto and take us through to a sweaty, summery, disco fantasy. 

The track was inspired by Desire’s aunts who would go against convention to find freedom and empowerment in the usually male-occupied taverns in their hometown of Amandawe. Desire comments: “It’s an ode to them, an ode for defiance and feminine manifestations everywhere, an ode to people who come alive at night, to people who enjoy being free and also an ode to people who are fierce about claiming their freedom.” See you down the local tavern, kween!

Desire is out 6th August via Mute.
Desire Marea: Instagram / Facebook