Culture Craze
Shekhinah Softens the Sting of Heartbreak with Surprise Album ‘Less Trouble’
Just before the clock struck midnight, Shekhinah quietly changed the rhythm of South African R&B.
Without fanfare or warning, the Durban-born singer-songwriter dropped a surprise announcement on Instagram: her brand-new album, Less Trouble, would be live at midnight. “If you’re seeing this, my album ‘Less Trouble’ is out now,” she wrote. “Love you all. Until, until, until. See you at Rosefest.”
For fans who had been waiting since her 2021 album Trouble in Paradise, it was the kind of unexpected gift that hits like a late-night text from an old flame: emotional, personal, and impossible to ignore.
A new chapter, the same honesty
Shekhinah’s music has always read like a diary with the pages torn open. With Less Trouble, she returns not to erase pain but to reflect on how we carry it differently with time. The album’s synopsis, printed like a page inside the artwork she shared, reads:
A book on more heartbreak but less heartache. The art of going in absolute circles.
It’s an idea many South Africans resonate with: heartbreak is constant, but perhaps, over time, it becomes softer, more manageable.
In many ways, this album feels like a spiritual follow-up to Trouble in Paradise, which navigated emotional chaos and disappointment. Less Trouble doesn’t offer a fairytale ending. It suggests that while love still hurts, we may now be wiser, even when we fall into those same old circles.
View this post on Instagram
Soundtrack for healing
Shekhinah stays true to her signature blend of R&B, pop, and alternative influences but widens the soundscape. The project includes collaborations that elevate the emotional textures she’s known for.
Young Stunna, the Amapiano hitmaker, lends his soulful introspection to “Spoonky,” a love song that celebrates intimate time with a partner. It also samples “Sponky Ponky” by the late legend Jabu Khanyile, adding a nostalgic layer for South African listeners. Shekhinah even adlibs in isiZulu on the track, grounding it deeply in her roots.
Other features include Moily, Mars Baby, and Lordkez, who all bring contrasting energies, creating an album that feels curated but still cohesive. From start to finish, Less Trouble is wrapped in sincerity.
The closing track, “Until Until,” is especially intriguing. It blends Shekhinah’s melodic voice with an unexpected Amapiano log drum, a subtle but powerful way to mark evolution without losing her essence.
A gift timed with Women’s Day
The timing of the release wasn’t accidental. Just a day later, on 9 August, Shekhinah is headlining her own all-women music festival, Rosefest, at Nasrec in Johannesburg.
Coinciding with National Women’s Day, Rosefest has become her personal stage for spotlighting women in South African music. This year’s theme is “Festival of Fantasy,” a tribute not only to the country’s talent but also to her debut album, Rose Gold.
As Shekhinah enters a new chapter, she’s not just releasing music. She’s creating space for other women to be heard, felt, and celebrated.
Social media response
Instagram lit up within minutes of the surprise drop. Fans flooded her post with broken hearts, fire emojis, and thank-yous. “You have no idea how much I needed this album,” one follower wrote. Others hailed it as “mature,” “pure Shekhinah magic,” and “an unexpected comfort blanket.”
Music blogs and Twitter music critics also applauded the low-key release, noting how it mirrors the themes of vulnerability and emotional honesty found in the album itself.
A soundtrack for healing, not hiding
With Less Trouble, Shekhinah isn’t trying to escape heartbreak. She’s just showing that even in the midst of it, there can be softness, growth, and surprising beauty. Whether it’s through late-night drops, love-song samples, or sharing a stage with other women, she reminds us: vulnerability is still power.
Also read: Nandi and The Rev: Mlombi Family Returns to Mzansi Magic Screens
Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram
For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com
Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
