A studio session built around a handful of beats turned into something neither artist expected.

When producer Tinashe played Karabo and collaborator Tineke a run of instrumentals, one caught immediately, and ‘Only 4 U’ took shape from there.

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | X | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

The track finds the South African singer-songwriter – KARABO – leaning fully into vulnerability, built on electronic production, digital drums, keys, strings and bass that sit comfortably alongside artists like Giveon and Lucky Daye. It’s the sound of an artist opening up completely, both in subject matter and in the room where it was made.

Written and recorded alongside Tinashe and Tineke, ‘Only 4 U’ began life in the studio when Tinashe played the pair a selection of beats he had produced. Karabo and Tineke were drawn to the instrumental that would become ‘Only 4 U’, with Tineke taking the lead on writing and Karabo filling in the gaps as the song’s theme emerged. Tineke also recorded a guide vocal for the track, which Karabo has described as “phenomenal.”

Speaking on the single, Karabo said: “Only 4 U speaks about being vulnerable with your significant other, basically not withholding any part of you and allowing your partner in completely. It also describes the kind of love I have for my significant other, furthermore it speaks to how loyal I am to them, and the commitment we have established in our relationship over time.“

‘Only 4 U’ follows the release of Songs About You, an album exploring love, vulnerability, commitment, memory and human connection through Karabo’s distinctive Afro-Soul lens. The record is led by ‘Ngak’thandazela’, a love song inspired by the prayer Karabo made for the woman who would become his wife, and ‘Safe’, featuring Tineke, which has already secured playlisting on Mzansi Soul. The album also brings in South African voices KLY on ‘Flashbacks’ and Touchline on ‘Mnike’.