Charles Webster, EMAMKAY & Bokang Ramatlapeng Deliver Jazz-Infused Masterpiece with ‘Rain’

With the fourth single from his highly anticipated album From The Hill, revered UK house maestro Charles Webster offers a reflective new track titled “Rain”, blending soulful jazz textures and downtempo elegance. Out on 11 July via Stay True Sounds, Rain sees Webster collaborate with boundary-breaking South African producer EMAMKAY and the evocative voice of Bokang Ramatlapeng, resulting in a piece that’s both emotionally immersive and sonically daring.

Known for his genre-defying blend of conscious hip-hop, soul, jazz, and leftfield electronica, EMAMKAY brings a subtle, spiritual dimension to the production. His sound is often described as more spirit than genre, and on Rain, that energy is palpable. It’s an invitation to pause, reflect, and listen — not just to the beat, but to the message.

Complementing this, Bokang Ramatlapeng’s vocals pour over the track like gentle rain itself: deep, resonant, and soul-stirring. Her voice holds the emotional centre of the song, elevating the minimal instrumentation into something far greater — a meditation in musical form.

Webster, a legend in deep house and electronic music, gracefully steps back here to allow the collaboration to breathe. This isn’t a track that announces itself with grandeur; instead, Rain lands softly, with impact. It’s a meeting of generations and geographies — a true fusion between South Africa’s new soul wave and UK house history.

Rain also serves as a powerful teaser for From The Hill, due for release on 26 September. A collaboration between Webster and Kid Fonque (Allan Nicoll), the album brings together some of South Africa’s most compelling voices in deep house, all recorded at the historic Flame Studios. Located at Constitution Hill — once a prison that held Nelson Mandela and now a symbol of freedom and creative rebirth — the studio adds emotional weight and historical context to the album’s vision.

More than just a single, Rain is a sonic offering — full of space, restraint, and purpose.

Listen to “Rain” on all major platforms from 11 July.
Album From The Hill drops 26 September via Stay True Sounds.