IN A NUTSHELL
- lordkez joins COLORSxSTUDIOS and Levi’s EMERGENT global music programme
- Her A COLORS SHOW performance premieres on 1 June featuring a brand new song
- The spotlight places another South African artist on a major international platform
South African R&B continues to make its mark globally, and the latest artist stepping onto the world stage is lordkez. The Kimberley born singer-songwriter has been announced as the South African representative for EMERGENT, the multi-year global music programme created by COLORSxSTUDIOS and Levi’s® to spotlight rising artists at pivotal moments in their careers.
As part of the programme, lordkez will release her highly anticipated A COLORS SHOW performance on 1 June, introducing her sound and artistry to an even wider global audience.
Over the past few years, lordkez has steadily established herself as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary African R&B. Her acclaimed 2023 album, Testament, earned her a South African Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, while recent releases such as “Aweh” have continued to showcase her blend of soulful melodies, emotional storytelling and introspective songwriting.
Her catalogue and collaborations with artists including Bas, Shekhinah, Jelani Blackman and Cassper Nyovest have positioned her as one of the standout voices of a globally connected generation of African artists.
For her COLORS debut, lordkez will perform a brand new track titled Wena Fela, offering fans their first glimpse into her upcoming album.
The performance will be accompanied by two original films. The first, titled Side A / Side B, explores two sides of lordkez’s personality through music, identity and personal storytelling. The second film, 5:01, takes viewers into a quiet and reflective moment of her day, using Levi’s iconic 501 denim as a creative starting point to discuss growth, self discovery and artistry.
lordkez joins a carefully selected group of six artists from across Mexico, South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan who will each receive a dedicated spotlight as part of EMERGENT throughout 2026.
For South African music, it is another reminder that local artists are not only building audiences at home, but increasingly finding themselves at the centre of global cultural conversations.
