SA: Rowlene shares new single ahead of EP release

‘Don’t Give Up on Me’ is available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms.

The song delves into the often unspoken struggle of chasing a dream amidst uncertainty and emotional exhaustion. With a stripped-back production that fuses R&B and Afro-pop influences, the track centres on haunting vocals and minimal instrumentation, allowing the vulnerability in Rowlene’s storytelling to shine through.

“This is the most honest I’ve ever been in a song,” Rowlene said. “It’s about the fear of losing yourself while chasing something you love. The people who leave. The pressure to keep evolving. But mostly, it’s about not giving up, on yourself, or what you believe in.”

Accompanied by a visualiser, ‘Don’t Give Up on Me’ captures themes of solitude, reflection, and quiet strength. The release also signals the official unveiling of Moments After, a project that pieces together Rowlene’s personal experiences of growth, loss, and self-reclamation following a pivotal life chapter.

“Moments After is about what happens after the fallout, after the breakaway,” she said. “These songs are pieces of me I wasn’t ready to share before. Now I am.”

In anticipation of the EP release, Rowlene will host Rowlene x Strictly Soul Live: EP Listening Session on 27 May.