Gemma Fassie’s ‘Island 22’ EP Has Arrived – A Sonic Diary of Love, Loss, and Liberation
From the southern tip of Africa to playlists around the globe, Cape Town’s Gemma Fassie is making a compelling case for why she’s one of the continent’s most important new voices in R&B, Pop, and Afrobeat. With the release of her long-anticipated 6-track EP Island 22, she doesn’t just offer a project—she offers a mirror, a safe place, and a melodic journey through the emotional corners of the human heart.
A rich tapestry of romance, vulnerability, and empowerment, Island 22 is more than a title; it’s a state of mind. Each track is a chapter in a story Gemma has lived, survived, and now, generously shares with the world. With roots steeped in musical heritage and a career carved by resilience, the project invites listeners into her internal landscape, soundtracked by atmospheric R&B-pop melodies, nostalgic 90s influences, and Afrobeat rhythms that echo the pulse of Cape Town’s soul.
The journey begins with Hold On, an ethereal invitation into the EP’s core message—resilience. It’s a sonic pep talk, a whisper to the weary: “You are enough.” From there, Date Night plunges listeners into the haunting reality of blurred romance, where sweet words hide red flags. In No More, Gemma flips the script—it's not a heartbreak ballad, but a liberating goodbye. With every lyric, she reclaims her voice.
Tracks like What You Want and My Place show her range, both musically and emotionally. One tackles clarity after a breakup with Janet Jackson-inspired flair, the other celebrates love’s warmth through infectious Afrobeat melodies. Closing the EP is September, a ballad bathed in spring’s optimism, where forgiveness and new beginnings take root.
But Island 22 is not just about relationships with others; it’s about the one we have with ourselves. It’s about letting go, trusting intuition, and learning to hold on—only to what heals.
Gemma Fassie is no stranger to South Africa’s stages or airwaves. From performing at The Artscape Theatre and GoodHope FM’s Youth Day Concert to sharing the digital stage with Heart FM’s “Cape Town in Concert”, she’s been carving her lane for the past seven years. Her musical evolution—from debut single Best Life, to the breakout tracks I’m Fine and 17:28, to now—has been a reflection of a woman growing unapologetically.
Born into music, raised by the rhythms of Cape Town, and shaped by her determination to tell her story on her own terms, Gemma is part of a new wave of African artists rewriting the global pop narrative. Whether it’s her voice, her pen, or her engineering skills behind the mic, everything she does is deeply intentional.
Island 22 is available now on all major streaming platforms via Platoon. Press play and press in—because once you land on Island 22, you might never want to leave: https://platoon.lnk.to/island-22
Connect with Gemma Fassie
Facebook: @gemmafassie
X: @gemmafassie_
Instagram: @gemmafassie
TikTok: @gemmafassie
YouTube: @gemmafassie
