TAWANDA CHARI
Written in March 2021. Rediscovered in 2025. Ans still relevant. There’s something powerful about stumbling across a piece of writing you penned in a different version of yourself. More so when the music it was inspired by still hits just as hard, four years later.
Cverb’s Zwana EP, released on 9 February 2021 and produced by VI The Law at Nirvana Labs, is one such body of work that continues to defy time. It is a five-track offering packed with unmistakable soul. Zwana marked her second studio project following 2017’s Eruptions, a breakout EP produced by Courtney Antipas that yielded hits like “I’m Ready” and “Clap”.
From the very first track, Uzwile featuring Julian King, Cverb sets the tone – thoughtful, grounded and quietly commanding. Julian King’s vocals complement her reflective verses, pulling listeners into a sonic space where faith and personal truth intertwine.
Then comes Ngeyakho Le, a declaration of personal agency. Cverb raps with clarity: she lives her life as she sees fit, for Christ, for purpose. Not to prove perfection, but to exude what she values – truth, authenticity and real cool that isn’t performative. This is her life, and her music is simply a natural extension of that.
The third track, Qhawekazi featuring SoulDeep, is the EP’s glowing centrepiece, a beautiful reminder that womanhood, in all its expressions, is powerful. The title, a name of Ndebele, Zulu and Xhosa origins meaning “heroine” or “queen”, is an ode to women everywhere. Regardless of hairstyles, careers or daily struggles, the message is lucid: you are still queens. SoulDeep’s vocals are exactly what her name suggests: richly soulful, comforting and full of purpose.
Muntu Wami stands out for its emotional weight. For an artist who doesn’t typically lean into love songs, this one feels like a heartfelt exception or perhaps an elevation of what love can mean when aligned with faith and mutual understanding. It’s arguably the best song on the project, a manifestation of what it means to be seen and loved right.
The closing track Gug’othandayo is a mature reflection on time, pressure and growth. Cverb speaks directly to the young heart – that what feels overwhelming now may one day seem small. But even then, greatness still waits for those who choose it. And choosing it is always better than the alternative.
Zwana is a message still echoing years later. Cverb may have grown since then. We all have.
But this EP remains a testimony to a young woman finding her rhythm, purpose and voice. Doing it with style, faith and fire.
Yes, this review is long overdue. But some music doesn’t age. It matures.
And Zwana is one of those gems.
Stream here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3LExQQv6An0nDqV3NsjjEv
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