Grammy Award-winning artist Una Rams marks a new chapter in his career with his debut album “Meet Me at the Altar,” a soulful fusion of love, faith, and Venda heritage, a sonic love letter to his wife and culture.
Blending deeply personal storytelling with universal emotion, the Grammy-winning artist opens his heart through a body of work that celebrates connection and legacy.
Speaking to The Star, Unarine Rambani, popularly known as Una Rams, reflected on how life in the public eye has taught him to carefully guard parts of himself, but with Meet Me at the Altar, he traded restraint for vulnerability, creating music from a place of honesty and heart.
“This time, I let go, I went into the studio and created straight from the heart, and something truly beautiful was born.”
The musician explained that each track on the album brims with intimacy and authenticity, particularly ‘Nguwe’, a commissioned love song for a US-based doctor surprising his South African partner.
“I had to become their voice while staying true to myself,” he said. “It’s specific to their story, yet resonates with anyone who’s ever been separated by distance but bound by love,” he added.
Una Rams revealed that the project initially began as a wedding playlist, but his brother and manager, Matt, suggested it had the potential to become a full album.
“That idea flipped a switch in me; it felt like the right time, I’d grown, achieved milestones, and was ready to take this step. Although I’ve worked on projects before that felt like albums, this one carries a powerful story unfolding in my life,” Una Rams shared.
He shared that some tracks, including “Priceless Possession,” date back to 2017, embodying his belief in the 'wine theory', where meaningful music grows richer.
“‘Priceless Possession’ was born from a dream, and even back then, the lyrics felt profound. Re-recording it now, as a husband and father, I feel the words in a completely new light. When I sing ‘there's nobody in the world who could give me what we have,’ I truly mean it. Looking back, it’s almost as if my younger self was predicting my own future,” he reflected.
Una Rams emphasised the importance of preserving his cultural roots in his album.
“Language is a big one for me, I had to show up as who I am. I’m proudly African and believe in the power of cultural exchange,” he said.
He described the album as a “sonic museum,” a space to safeguard his heritage while fostering cross-cultural dialogue. Highlighting his collaborations, working with C-Tea, who brought his Ghana bounce to tracks like ‘Never Knew,’ created a beautiful Africa-wide conversation through his music.
The musician explained that he lets melody and emotion determine whether a lyric is in English or Tshivenda. Writing in his home language, Venda, unlocks creative possibilities and flows he would not reach using only English.
He wants Venda listeners to feel pride in hearing their language, while others can experience the emotion and love, perhaps even sparking curiosity to learn it. He added that collaborations, like Amanda Black singing in Venda on “Takala,” showcase the kind of cultural bridge-building that inspires him.
Una Rams described his music as “for vows, for forever, for the altar,” adding that witnessing couples play his songs at their weddings is the greatest reward.
“I want these songs to live in the moments and memories people create together, to be celebrated for generations. When ‘Tshinakaho’ was released as an early single, seeing people post wedding clips in traditional attire was deeply fulfilling. It felt like I was living my life’s purpose, creating platforms for cultural celebration,” he said.
The album was officially launched on 24 September, Heritage Day, marking not only a personal milestone in Una Rams’ career but also a celebration of South African culture, heritage, and love.
The Star
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