Apple Music’s latest Africa Rising Cover Star is South African RnB Singer-Songwriter, Filah Lah Lah

Apple Music today announced the latest cover star in its Africa Rising artist development program is South African R&B songstress, Filah Lah Lah (real name Reabetswe Fila Ranamane).

“Being chosen as the Africa Rising artist feels absolutely incredible,” she tells Apple Music. “Thank you so much to Apple Music for supporting local R&B talent like myself. Thank you to my fans for riding as hard as you have been since day one. Peace!’”

As a child, Filah Lah Lah thought that the way that she spoke and looked, and the thoughts that she had, were different to everyone else, and because of this she felt “other”. Music was the creative outlet that allowed Filah to embrace that “other” and to revel in it. Her father also made sure that she was exposed to the excellence of black musicians from an early age, playing everything from jazz to funk to soul to shape her musical consciousness.

Consequently inspired by jazz icons like Nina Simone, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane, masters of R&B like Marvin Gaye, Betty Wright and Smokey Robinson, and the energy of ‘90s hip hop, Filah Lah Lah poured her unique artistry into her debut EP Filahsofy (2020). And while her debut EP was an intimate snapshot of her life, her second EP We’re Gonna Be Just Fine(2021), showed her immense growth both through restrained vocals and sensual soundscapes, taking on a more ambient and harmonic tone.

On her debut album ON AIR (2024), available to stream on Apple Music, Filah Lah Lah explores this deep-rooted idea of identity, belonging, and self-discovery across a massive 18 songs. The fashioning of this R&B-rooted album also serves as a sounding board for Filah Lah Lah, exemplary of who and what she wants to be as a consummate artist.

The latest music from Filah Lah Lah along with that of Africa’s hottest new artists, is available now on the Apple Music Africa Rising Playlist.

Discover Africa Rising here: applemusic.com/africarising

Apple Music’s Africa Rising, is an exclusive artist development programme and companion playlist geared towards identifying, showcasing and elevating rising talent and introducing the next generation of African superstars. Africa Rising alumni to date include: Omah Lay, Manu Worldstar, Tems, Amaarae, Ayra Starr, Yaw Tog, Blxckie and Nikita Kering. Africa Rising sees Apple Music select six artists every year who each receive a minimum of two months of editorial support across the Apple Music platform including a launch interview with Nadeska on Apple Music 1. Nadeska has also launched a new weekly Africa Rising feature on her show highlighting the hottest new artists on the continent.

Africa Rising is the latest of many Apple Music initiatives aimed at taking African talent to the world. Now available in 33 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Apple Music 1 is home to Africa Now Radio with host Nandi Madida which has featured interviews with some of the continent’s hottest artists such as Tiwa Savage, Yemi Alade, Cassper Nyovest, Mr Eazi, Patoranking, Rayvanny, Kiddominant, Mayorkun, Fireboy DML, Adekunle Gold, Master KG, Yaw Tog, Blxckie, Nikita Kering, Buju, FAVE, Nomfundo Moh and Moliy.