South African-born, Berlin-based singer-songwriter Uwineza has confirmed that her second studio album will be released in April 2026. The upcoming nine-track project signals a creative shift for the genre-blending artist, who spent much of 2025 studying abroad and writing new music across the Greek islands during her Erasmus exchange semester.
Known for her emotionally raw 2024 debut You’re Gonna Hate It, Uwineza’s new work reflects a very different phase. This time, she replaces layered instrumentation with restraint, choosing clarity over complexity. The album was built around the simplest of tools, guitar, voice and instinct, recorded between short-term apartments, open-air spaces, and studio sessions with producer and long-time collaborator Nikolai Looft.
“This album came from a place of stillness,” Uwineza said. “Greece gave me time to reflect, write and reconnect with why I started making music in the first place. It wasn’t about the pressure to sound a certain way. It was about telling the truth, plainly.”
The project moves away from her earlier sonic references to romantic rock and jazz. Instead, the upcoming release is grounded in acoustic minimalism and lyrical storytelling.
Thematically, the album explores creative self-trust, uncertainty, and the internal questions that surface when the noise dies down. Uwineza says it speaks to the emotional reality of early adulthood and the kind of doubts that many artists and students carry but rarely voice.
“This project taught me that it’s okay to not have it all figured out,” she said. “That’s what makes the songs relatable. They’re full of open endings.”
While the album is still undergoing final mastering, two singles are expected to be released ahead of its full launch in April. A supporting visual rollout, including a standalone music video and digital visualisers, is currently in development, with more details to be announced early in the new year.
Uwineza has also spent the past year refining her technical performance skills. She has been focused on vocal training, guitar technique, and live experimentation with the RC-30 loop station. She is also in the process of assembling a performance band for select 2026 showcases.
Join the conversation using #Uwineza and follow her on social media:
Facebook: @Uwineza
Twitter: @Uwineza
Instagram: @Uwineza
About Uwineza
Uwineza is a Johannesburg-born, Berlin-based artist known for her emotionally introspective songwriting and genre-crossing sound. Her 2024 debut You’re Gonna Hate It introduced a deeply personal style that blended romantic rock, soul and jazz. Her second studio album, expected in April 2026, reflects a creative shift toward acoustic minimalism, clarity and the quiet honesty that emerged during her songwriting residency in Greece.
SUPPLIED.
