After stunning audiences on Groove Cartel and earning her place as “The Lioness Lighting Up Amapiano” in our previous Control Magazine feature, Leandra.Vert returns with a powerful, soul-rooted offering , “Ithemba’Lam”(UNRELEASED) . Featuring Mawhoo, FKA Moses, and Native Tribe, the single is a deeply personal prayer wrapped in rhythmic layers and ancestral echoes.
Born during a creative camp nearly a year ago, Ithemba’Lam is a spiritual expression, a whispered affirmation turned anthem.
“This song was inspired by a tough phase in my life whereby I had to rely on prayer. Prayer for the protection of my life in general,” Leandra shares.
From the very first piano keys to the eventual layering of tribal elements, the production carries the emotional weight of its creator’s journey. It’s reflective yet uplifting, anchored by Mawhoo’s haunting vocals and textured further by FKA Moses and Native Tribe’s grounded musicality.
“The process was emotional and spiritual… everyone in the studio was in a loving space,” she recalls. “The only real challenge? Finding the saved project on the PC.”
As lighthearted as that sounds, the music itself speaks volumes, rooted in intention, healing, and connection.
With stats that speak for themselves, 10.2 million streams, 482 playlists, a 15.2 million playlist reach, 159 chart placements, and nearly 955K Shazams Leandra.Vert is no longer just emerging. She’s solidified. And Ithemba’Lam marks the beginning of her next evolution.
“This track is the leading song to my upcoming EP,” she reveals. “It was curated over a year, and this was the song I felt had to start the motion for the rest.”
Although the official release date for the EP remains under wraps, Leandra hints that it’s coming very soon. And if Ithemba’Lam is the introduction, we’re more than ready for the full story.
“The song is ready to be heard,” she says with a smile. “I’m so excited.”
