koi no yokan (of japanese origin) is an expression, oftentimes used to articulate a feeling that’s induced when you meet someone for the first time and you know you will fall in love (with them).

the song manifested itself as that - taking twists & turns through sounds that wouldn’t necessarily “make a good fit” on a normal day. the foleys (randomly) used are testament to that.

do enjoy & thank you for hearing me out.

koi no yokan

we close our eyes to pray, 
to weep & sob,
to imagine…

we close our eyes to sleep, 
to tap into a world unknown to the naked eye, mind,
to connect with the ones across the sea…

we close our eyes to rest, 
in bed, 
in peace, 
in... definitely...

so as you listen to this, 
cimeza…
& let this take you, to wherever your imagination guides you to…

this is me, venting — meditating, having uncomfortable conversations with myself with my eyes closed…

i hope that you close your eyes too + allow a greater sense to help you navigate the world differently, that this song makes you feel…

cimeza & do enjoy:)

credits:

written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso (oh, that’s me!)

cimeza!

communication — one, shallow concept at surface level but one that deepens with understanding, with language, with advancement.

a follow-on from taola, we get messages from a variety of ways — dreams, vivid, sparking a heightened consciousness.

again, these are the dreams that i have for my music — to convey messages, vivid beyond everyday conversations.

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

ukuxhumana

taola, a fortune-telling bone, which is much more than just a fraction of the human phenotypic make-up.

it’s a compass, a directive that helps us navigate messages when we seek guidance, clarity& light from the great ones, the ones beyond the ocean.

& honestly, i hope that my music becomes that to someone, out there.

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

taola

a darker, melancholic approach to the original score — one that cites themes of grief, despair & indifference except this time, it features, an emotive — striking, poetic, performance by the incredible spoken word artist, Eartha.

take a trip with us, ucimezile…

lyrics

i've closed my eyes to the wonders that run beyond this dubious liberation,
i've shut my eyes to the breaking of this world as it ramifies into two,
drawing us closeer to alienation...
i dwell in this frame of existence, knowing very well that I'm not alive,
i swiftly ramble in the thick of the night, as bare means to survive.

i know nothing of myself, nor a speck of sanity,
my heart, throat and soul tighten as I let out yet another bitter tragedy,
i dwell in this frame of existence, as bare means to survive...
we're all just fragmented shreds of suffering,
carelessly wandering about our deathly existence,
cascading down the blues and out into the distance.

i have dismissed this life as a mere illusion,
a daunting reality in endless destition - along with all its forms.
the sulleness it brought came with little to no restitution...
the wave purges in persistence!
as we endure the consequence of resistance.
"Everyday Resistance"

cimeza....  

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Lethabo Malele

cimeza! (take2)

on this day — when, this was written, i had just been informed of a close friend’s untimely passing & naturally, i resorted to the music to map the pain out, the grief out.

hope you’re resting well, toxi — iba yidlozi elihle njayam.

okam is his surname, written backwards.

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

inspiration + ode: Thabiso “Toxi” Mako

okam

this is the happy ending but is it really?

this is the “thungisani” moment, the “late night/early morning video calling, giving imaginary kids their middle names” moment.

the “phakade lami la’mzukwana vandag nangoDizemba”

the smiles, induced by their names popping up on your screen when you’re blomming with the broers.

the happy, ending… ending!

suhanisa

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

originally scored by Devonte Hynes

cheveux

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Atlegang Motaung (@itsatlii on twitter)

hopeless... (feat. atlii)

misogynoir - an audiotrip through thoughts, feelings, sentiments towards the constant suffering that women have to endure in the hands of men. the writer aims to wail, weep through the piercing stabs, violins - posing as letters, stories, tears downpouring from a woman scorned, assaulted & stripped of her freedom to be.

in as much as this may be a bop, kindly keep in mind that there's a lot that is happening around us & that, if we, reside, cocooned & confined in spaces of neutrality to such conversations, misogynoir will prevail.

msgnr (rvst)

malankane, a colloquial term we use for a tall figure — a tale that i remember vividly from early childhood.

the song also references “Giant’s Tale” by SpheraQ, an interlude — a sonic masterpiece.

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

Giants' Tale

malankane

a clear of example of titles ruining everything, Zama gives an account of how my music should be received or not — she speaks on the various influences that are sonically evident in my music & encourages a culture of listening to the music, rather than packaging it into glasses of genre + assumptions of how it would sound.


credits 🎬

vocals: (un)written, arranged + performed by Zama Qwabe (@QwabeZamaN on twitter)


production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso

ear to the sound

one of the few things that i “struggle” with is how easily i tend to fall in love — one could just randomly lock eyes with me & i would be gone in an instant…

herein, Johnny Wxlf wittingly narrates a story of his encounter with a girl that gives him sleepless nights — one who he feels like stares into his soul with every encounter…

he admits his vulnerability, his undying love for her & his willingness to die, for her…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Gugulethu Mngoma (@johnnywxlfmusic on instagram & @johnnywxlf twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

PLEASE DON'T STARE AT ME, I WILL FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU... (feat. Johnny Wxlf)

upon internal conversations,  a storm might brew from within — one that would require to find a place of solace, refuge and calm, in love…

a storm, with a silver lining — one that brings one closer to themselves…

laradá, emphasises this through her chorus in which she harmonious sings “…uqonda ekhaya, efuna lezozinto az’funayo”, implying the constant need to find themselves — the pursuit of completeness.


credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Samkelisiwe Dludlu (@la.rada_ on instagram)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

IMIMOYA YEZI PHEPHO (feat. laradá)

& once the rage has been realised, there’s a subsequent juxtaposition between loving for yourself and loving from a premise of being loved… 

a love from within and a reactionary love…

and on “KEAMO’s INTERLUDE” — girlthewoman renders a soliloquy, a conversation between time, love & sanity before an admission of love, is made…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Keamogetswe Makgoba (@girlthewoman on instagram)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

KEAMO's INTERLUDE… (feat. girlthewoman)

BUT! on the other end of the love spectrum, there’s a love that leaves one weak on their knees — almost causing an instability in their ability to navigate around their emotions, stimulating an emotional turmoil, unrest… “RAGE”…

not the rage that translates to anger but one that nurtures one’s emotional fortitude & Johnny Wxlf narratives this so harmoniously, so wittingly, and with so much soul…

Johnny Wxlf emphasises, loopingly, the beauty behind the rage — before Siphokazi Nondabula echoes the same sentiments, highlighting the relationship between one’s incompleteness & their ability to fall in love…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Gugulethu Mngoma (@johnnywxlfmusic on instagram & @johnnywxlf twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

RAGING ON.. TILL THE MOON SHINES (feat. Johnny Wxlf)

love should be pleasant — fun & carefree, or at least that’s what i think & Chipego helps me realise that sonically with absolute brilliance!

Chipego, without saying much or emphasis on spoken enunciation — goes on a harmonious exhibition! just effortlessly, singing her heart out, almost dancing, just as love should be…

we always speak about falling in love but imagine a love where you’re in control of your footwork — your emotions & you can tap dance, expressing yourself in your own way…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Chipego Mwiinga (@chipego_ on instagram & @chipego__ on twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

SOME FALL IN LOVE... WE DANCE IN  IT (feat. Chipego)

“SELAH…” is a visual, painted by an illustrator, Eartha — using words, imagery and cadence that’s laid back and almost indifferent.

Eartha wittingly describes the bareheaded & barehearted vulnerability that being in love, induces — almost equating it to being “stripped naked”..

towards the ends, Eartha heightens the concepts of vulnerability by alluding to a confession, declaring his (un)dying love… for what could be, the last time…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Lethabo Malele (@k.adamawi on instagram & twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

WE FALL IN LOVE... AS THESE INCOMPLETE BEINGS

SELAH... (feat. Eartha)

we all feel lonely, at some point — in love or outside of it.

sometimes, all it takes is a companion to fill that void — a shoulder to cry on, a chest to lay on & the warmth of a beating heart that reassures love.

alma del niño not only stresses this through the bass he plays but the harmonies he boast, almost feeling that a weeping, heart

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

additional bass, production vocals: written, arranged + performed by Pfano Malada (@almadelnino on instagram)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

sometimes, i wish that my soul’dmate could replace my pillow, at night (feat. alma del niño)

the return feature from the original offering, girlthewoman, unknowingly speaks on the grieving process of a loss — almost supporting the sentiments of Soul Rich…

“LiNGELOYi”, which is a sotho word for an “angel” is a story of grieving… she eloquently describes the void that the absence of her angel has conceived & how she wishes that she’d return.

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Keamogetswe Makgoba (@girlthewoman on instagram)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

LiNGELOYi (feat. girlthewoman)

whilst we’re still on the subject of a nurturing love, Soul Rich heightens this feeling by painting a scene where a woman loses her child, upon birth after having formed a stillbond, relationship & an an almost intangible love with the unborn baby.

Soul Rich uses cadence, pacing, intonation & intensity to echo the crushing feeling of losing someone that you love… in real time… leaving you undone & unmatched… incomplete as a being

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Letlhogonolo Mhlotshazana (@soulrich_sa on twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

undone + unmatched (feat. Soul Rich)

harmoniously, atlii opens the sermon — singing, with calm as she eases us to a spoken word piece that speaks, heavily on the weight that is grounded in love… almost in total contrast to the harmonies that support this performance.

she compares to a compass — almost alluding to how directionless, the lack of love feels like & goes into emphasise the nurturing nature of love or at least in context…

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by Itumeleng Leso 

vocals: written, arranged + performed by Atlegang Motaung (@itsatlii on twitter)

cover art: written, designed + illustrated by Candice Myataza (@deepartearthworld on instagram)

calm... come... calm... come with me (feat. atlii)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.] & ssynths

vocals: written, arranged & performed by Chipego 

DOMINO EFFECT (Feat. Chipego)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.]

vocals: written, arranged & performed by Enocs Mae, DoxThe_Maverick & Zobisto

AMATHAFA (Feat. DoxThe_Maverick & Zobisto)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.], keyywav & 500.

vocals: written, arranged & performed by Enocs Mae 

skit appearance: performed by mstoney

QUASI MAQONDANA (AN INTERLUDE EHHE!!) [Feat. keyywav & 500.]

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.]

vocals: written, arranged & performed by LOOYUNDAH 


I WANT MY THINGS BACK

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.] & MHMMD

vocals: written, arranged & performed by LUNGĒLWA 

MOTIONS… (Feat. LUNGĒLWA)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.]

vocals: written, arranged & performed by LOOYUNDAH 

sampled artist: zango kubheka (for “imvula” with Lia Butler)

skit appearance: performed by yayasfrequency

WHERE IS IT? (Feat. zango kubheka)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.]

vocals: written, arranged & performed by alma del niño & Girlthewoman 

SIPEO… (Feat. Girlthewoman)

credits 🎬

production: written, composed + arranged by [kimetsu.]

vocals: written, arranged & performed by Girlthewoman 

TŠHABA NGWANA

[kimetsu.] is a South African sonic and visual artist whose work transcends easy categorization.

Rooted in the ancestral rhythms of the continent, yet filtered through lo-fi minimalism and ambient abstraction, [kimetsu.] creates worlds that feel like whispered dreams — haunting, greyscale, and deeply emotive.

Drawing influence from tribal sonic memory, jazz improvisation, ambient decay, and experimental silence, the work doesn’t demand attention — it invites presence.

This is not music or visual art in the traditional sense; it is atmosphere, texture,
a meditation on selfhood and absence.

[kimetsu.] uses anonymity and abstraction as forms of storytelling.

Their emblematic logos, sparse arrangements, and absence of lyrical directness create a language that is more felt than understood — a language born from both the ancient and the digital.

Popular tracks by [kimetsu.]