JOHANNESBURG (8 March 2021) – Afro-Soul and R&B fans are in for a treat as vocal maestro, singer, songwriter, and producer Presss, aka Preston Sihlangu, announces the release of his new two-part album titled XO, meaning hugs and kisses, under the Tambor Projects record label.
Packed into two parts with soul from end to end, XO’s 21 tracks add to the impressive body of music Presss has brought out over the past two decades.
XO marks his fifth studio release, and the artist is excited to share his artistry once again. “I live and breathe music. Sure, this is my career, but it is also my calling. This craft allows me to draw on my life, my influences, my ups, and my downs, and do what I love doing best – and that’s making music.
“It’s both an honour and a privilege to be able to share this work with fans and new listeners, and I would like to thank everyone who has been involved to see this project through,” he says.
Presss has been in the professional arena since 2002 when he rocketed to fame after winning Coca-Cola Popstars and forming the group 101 alongside Pam Andrews, Erin Samson, Ntumiseng Mokhasipe and Kurt Herman. The group enjoyed immediate success, but it was with the launch of his solo career that Presss’s artistic talents truly came to the fore.
Prior to XO, Presss had released four studio albums. Known to many R&B fans across the country, these albums were from 101, that was released in 2004 and Young, Gifted and Black that graced our ears in 2007. After a break from studio albums – where Press spent much time honing his craft across disciplines in the industry – he released Black in 2014. Fans didn’t have to wait as long for his fourth album, which was titled Evolution of Love and was released in 2017.
These albums produced a string of hits, including Cry No More, iLobolo, Naledi, Ndi ngo wakho, Thojana ya thesele , Nkeke kao siya and Nomathemba. In 2014 Presss’ album Black was nominated for the Metro Fm Best R&B Album.
Hailing from the small town of Theunissen in the Free State, Presss is proof that talent and tenacity can achieve great things. Since lighting up our televisions and soundwaves with 101, and through his solo career, Presss has shared the stage with luminaries such as Alicia Keys, Usher, Paul Hammer, Jummy Dludlu and Khaya Mahlangu, among others and performed in Germany, Lithuania and Belgium.
Exercising his talents on the other side of the mic, Presss worked with Black Coffee on the production of the hit single Crazy, which featured female vocalist and his cousin, Thiwe Mbola.
Presss was due to perform in Bloemfontein in April 2020, at the Label Monte concert featuring American R&B singer and songwriter Musiq Soulchild. The concert was called off as the Covid-19 pandemic swept around the world.
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