Kahn Morbee returns with reflective and raw new solo EP ‘Buzzhead’
Acclaimed South African singer-songwriter Kahn Morbee, best known as the magnetic frontman of The Parlotones, returns to his solo roots with the release of his brand-new EP, Buzzhead, out today across all digital platforms.
Following his critically praised 2021 solo album A World At Suicide, Buzzhead finds Kahn in a new space—literally and figuratively. Now based in the Netherlands and working out of his self-built DIY home studio, Buzzhead is both a creative milestone and a sonic experiment in self-reliance and growth.
“I’m constantly writing,” says Kahn. “This particular journey has been about refining my engineering and producer skills. When I moved to the Netherlands, I built a little home studio and started figuring out how to truly capture the emotion and feel of my songs. Collaborating with a local guitarist/producer helped speed up my learning curve. There’s never one moment of inspiration—I create constantly, and when something feels right, I release it.”
Buzzhead is an introspective six-track EP that navigates themes of nostalgia, mortality, youth, and the sometimes nonsensical, often bittersweet, chaos of life. It blends lyrical depth with sonic experimentation and showcases Kahn’s evolution not only as a songwriter but as a solo producer.
Track by Track: The Stories Behind Buzzhead
1. Look At Us Now
A powerful reflection on ageing, disillusionment, and the realisation that life rarely plays out as we once imagined. It’s a brutally honest meditation on missed dreams and the façade we wear while navigating a life that may feel purposeless.
2. Afterglow
A poetic reminder of life’s highs and lows—tragedy and euphoria—as well as the beauty found in nostalgia. Afterglow celebrates growth through struggle and encourages listeners to dream boldly, even if the path is messy.
3. Buzzhead
The title track is sonically playful and lyrically ambiguous, with a new fingerpicking pattern giving rise to stream-of-consciousness lyrics and phonetic experimentation. It closes with a provocative musing on mortality, inspired by Atticus and Neil Young’s famous quote, “It’s better to burn out than fade away.”
4. Mad Summer
A wistful ode to carefree summer nights spent with friends, solving the world’s problems under the stars. While the moments are fleeting, the memories live forever in the bottle of nostalgia.
5. Tragedy of Life
Perhaps the emotional heart of the EP, this song tackles the painful but universal experience of letting go—of people, memories, youth, love, and fear. It’s about the inevitable losses that shape us, beautifully captured in Kahn’s signature poetic lyricism.
6. It All Makes No Sense
A chaotic and self-aware track that lives up to its title. It’s a fragmented stream of consciousness with shifting themes, tempo changes, and a personal shoutout to Kahn’s sons, who now claim it as their favourite. Rejected by The Parlotones, the song finds a perfect home on Buzzhead, representing Kahn’s playful creative freedom.
Kahn’s solo work exists alongside a celebrated two-decade career as the frontman of The Parlotones, one of South Africa’s most successful rock bands. Known for their iconic anthems and global touring legacy, The Parlotones continue to work on new music, with Kahn teasing that songs not fit for the band will increasingly find life through his solo releases.
“Some songs I send to the band will become Parlotones tracks, others they’ll reject and I’ll release them myself,” he adds. “Fans will love some, hate some—but that’s part of the beauty. We create because we love the process, not for validation.”
With Buzzhead, Kahn reaffirms that he’s not done exploring, questioning, or dreaming. This is music for the thinkers, the feelers, the broken, and the brave — and it marks the next chapter in the ever-evolving journey of one of South Africa’s most respected voices.
Connect with Kahn Morbee on social media:
Facebook | Instagram
Connect with The Parlotones on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
