In Shona culture it has long been taught that who we are is tied to the place we call home. Not just in terms of the typical cultural aspects but in both the physical and the spiritual relate to the environment. This is expressed in a certain reverence for what surrounds us, and this is at the heart of Shingai most recent release, "Mhondoro."
Released to mark Earth Month 2026, ahead of the upcoming Flow album - out later this year, the track is not only an act cultural preservation but a call for the safeguarding of our environment. Inspired by the Shona folk song 'Dzinomwa Muna Save' which speaks to the ancestors drinking from Save River, "Mhondoro" is a warning against the pollution of our sacred waters.
It is a reminder that what the Earth has provided for us is an important resource for those that are here, those that came before and those that shall come after us. It is a heritage to be safeguarded and passed on. Packaged in a combination of reggae and rock, with vocals that captivate, "Mhondoro" beautifully drives home it's message.
The single will be accompanied by a remix EP, set to be released in June featuring four remixes created by Somali DJ and filmmaker - Hibotep, Ugandan Afro house, 3-step and Afro tech DJ - R3igndrops, Zimbabwean Afro-electronic music producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist - TAPIWA, and a collaboration between the multidisciplinary artist and cultural curator Shumba Maasai with British electronic music duo Coldcut and composer and music producer Aron Kyne.
"Mhondoro" arrives as the first release from EarthSonic’s forthcoming Flow album, set to be released later this year. The project will feature artists from different parts of the world, including Nadine Shah (UK), Charlotte Church (UK), Sohini Alam (British-Bangladeshi), Jaloo, Bebé Salvego and Keila (Brazil), Maxine Peake (UK), Madame Gandhi (USA) and Icelandic Artists Valdis, SoffÃa Meldal, Kiely and Laura Luard.
Part of a project launched at COP30, the album will double as the soundtrack for a documentary set for release in 2027, spotlighting frontline women navigating water crises across six countries.
Known globally as the iconic vocalist and bassist of multi-platinum band Noisettes, Shingai's unmistakable voice has shaped tracks like "Never Forget You," "Don’t Upset the Rhythm" and "Wild Young Hearts," as well as the house classic "Hey Hey" with Denis Ferrer.
From global stages that include Glastonbury, Coachella and the London 2012 Festival, to homegrown platforms such as HIFA, Shingai has established herself as a force to be reckoned with and she continues to leave her mark.