Following the success of her previous single, Breakaway, SAMA-nominated singer-songwriter Rowlene returns with Don’t Give Up on Me, a deeply personal anthem and the second single from her newly announced EP, Moments After, which will arrive on 30 May via ONErpm.
Unfiltered and emotionally charged, Don’t Give Up on Me speaks to the quiet battles of trying to hold onto your dream when it feels like the world is moving on without you. It’s a song for the dreamers, the artists, and anyone who has questioned whether they are enough. “This is the most honest I’ve ever been in a song,” says Rowlene. “It’s about fearing losing yourself while chasing something you love. The people who leave. The pressure to keep evolving. But mostly, it’s about not giving up on yourself, or what you believe in.”
Sonically, the single weaves together R&B and Afro-pop textures, layered with haunting vocals and minimal, emotive production that lets the vulnerability lead. The accompanying visualiser offers fans a glimpse into the song’s story—one of solitude, reflection, and quiet resilience.
The new single release also marks the first official announcement of Rowlene’s next project: Moments After—a narrative-driven EP that threads together personal stories of growth, loss, and self-reclamation. The EP is described as a body of work that explores the emotional aftermath of a life-altering chapter and the fragments of self we pick up along the way. “Moments After is about what happens after the fallout—after the breakaway. These songs are pieces of me I wasn’t ready to share before. Now I am.”
Fans can look forward to more than just the music. Moments After is available for pre-save here, and tickets for Rowlene x Strictly Soul Live: EP Listening Session on Tuesday, 27 May have gone live. Join Rowlene for an evening with curated live performances and an intimate dinner experience. Get your tickets here!
Don’t Give Up on Me is available now on all major streaming platforms via ONErpm. Pre-save Moments After here, out 30 May.
About Rowlene
Rowlene is a Cape Town-born singer-songwriter known for her unique blend of R&B and Afro-pop, paired with honest, introspective storytelling. With a SAMA nomination and collaborations with some of the continent’s top names, she has carved out a space for vulnerability and empowerment in equal measure. Her latest singles, Breakaway and Don’t Give Up on Me, mark a powerful return ahead of her narrative-driven EP, Moments After.
