Each spring, Brussels’ cultural institution Le Botanique opens the festival season with their inescapable Les Nuits Bota. This year again and before everyone, they bring exciting, emerging and established artists to Belgium, in human-sized venues. Even if some shows are already sold-out, there is still a lot of jewels to discover and we made a small selection to help you make your program.

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First of all, let’s focus on the boiling Belgian line-up and if you’re familiar with HighClouds, all these names should sound familiar. The amazing Blackwave. and YellowStraps will make you move with their chill and groovy vibes. If you prefer cinematic and emotional electronic music, then Haring and Rari are here for you. We take the bet that the two girls of Juicy will energise the crowd with their retro-futuristic R&B and hip-hop music. Ulysse, Pale Grey and Tessa Dixson are certainly the most exciting acts on the Belgian indie pop scene at the moment.

Amongst the international acts that we don’t need to introduce, we’d like to mention the -already sold-out- concert of Charlotte Gainsbourg whose last album “Rest” was particularly good. Impossible to miss the noise-pop os U.S. Girls, the synth-pop odyssey of Porches, the style of Eddy de Pretto and the groove of Jungle.

French acts Malik Djoudi, Royaume, Polo & Pan, Bagarre and L’Impératrice should undoubtedly make memorable sparks. Amen Dunes just released one of the best albums of 2018 so far and he’ll be playing it in Brussels. South African queer artist Nakhane will bewitch you with the songs of his new album “You Will Not Die”. Be ready to dance with pop princess Mabel and to swag with Little Simz. Finally, new alternative sensation Yellow Days will also join the party.

Check the 2018’s full line-up of Les Nuits on their website and via their Spotify playlist below.

Following up on dancefloor-filler “Clairvoyant” and emotional “Presbyteria“, Nakhane is back with Mark Middlewick-directed visuals for a brand new track “Interloper”. The multi-talented queer artist is wearing his most beautiful disco suit and is assisted by a gospel choir for this new one. About this single, Nakhane detailed:

[su_quote]I spent about three years writing ‘Interloper’. It first started out as a Pornography-era The Cure homage. Then it morphed into a slow, acoustic Iron & Wine thing. Ben Christophers (producer) and I decided to make it a stomp and a romp. Something that one could spin around to. Even though it’s a song about irrational jealousy and anonymous sex.[/su_quote]

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Nakhane‘s album “You Will Not Die” will be released on March 16 and you can already pre-order it there. The artist will also be performing in Brussels on April 29, for the Nuits Bota 2018, with Témé Tan and Esinam.

Follow Nakhane over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Following up on the irresistible single “Clairvoyant“, Nakhane is back with “Presbyteria”. The single sounds totally different and introduces us to a smoother side of the South-African singer-songwriter and actor. We love his vocal performance and strong lines such as “Black and white never looked so good”. This new track comes with a striking and brave statement from the artist:

[su_quote]When I was Christian and prayed to God everyday, I had only hatred for myself. Every day of my life, I was doing all I possibly could to be like everyone else, to be heterosexual. I was even convinced I would be able to ‘heal’ my homosexuality. I was living in constant fear; controlling myself at all times.[/su_quote]

Nakhane‘s sophomore album “You Will Not Die” will be released on March 16 via BMG.

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Follow the artist over Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

NAKHANE is one of the rising artists from South Africa that you should have on your radar. Formerly known as Mavuso and then Nothemba, this openly gay man who grew up in a strict Christian house doesn’t hesitate to unveil its body and its emotions in the video of “Clairvoyant”. Nakhane Touré‘s track, which is the first single of its upcoming album “You Will Not Die”, has now a re-worked radio version and it’s simply a banger. The bass and gimmicky hook are infectious and unlike some of its fellow queer artists, like duo Faka for instance, this single sounds mainstream enough to please the global scene. “Clairvoyant” comes with an amazing video which was directed by Tebogo Malope. One must say that besides music, NAKHANE is also starring in John Trengove‘s movie “The Wound” (Inxeba – 2017). The versatile artist is also familiar with literature and poetry and this sensibility can be felt in its music and visuals. We can’t wait to hear more from the Cape Town’s artist.

NAKHANE‘s second album “You Will Not Die” will be out on March 16 via BMG

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Connect with the artist via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.