Durban’s beloved live electronic duo Veranda Panda are back and bolder than ever with their most daring, genre-defying body of work to date. Their brand-new EP, Ascension, is out now, with lead single “Love Today” featuring Angel M marking a triumphant evolution in their sound and message.
This vibrant collection of five original tracks is a brave and deeply personal artistic statement from Liam and Jane Magner. Known for their powerful, high-energy performances and unique fusion of electronic music, electric violin, and vocals, Ascension is a celebration of Veranda Panda’s journey through music, growth, and non-conformity.
After being honoured with the Golden Otter Award at this year’s Splashy Fen — an accolade for artists who embody the spirit of South Africa’s oldest and friendliest music festival — the duo retreated into the heart of the KZN Midlands with their rabbit, Oscar Wild, to complete the ideas that had been brewing for the past year.
The result is Ascension: an intricate, emotionally-rich offering that sees Jane take centre stage vocally across all five tracks for the very first time. It’s a bold creative shift that underscores the duo’s evolution and emotional depth.
The EP’s lead single, “Love Today,” is a collaboration with Pietermaritzburg singer-songwriter Angel M, whose soulful vocals blend seamlessly with Veranda Panda’s signature electronic flair. A nod to South Africa’s prolific afro-house sound, the track is an energetic yet introspective anthem about presence, gratitude, and celebrating the now.
“This song is a celebration of life at its core,” shares the duo. “It’s about embracing this day, this moment, because it’s all we can be sure of. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not promised, but today is a gift.”
Quoting the Dalai Lama, they add: “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday and the other is called Tomorrow. Today is the right day to Love, Believe, Do and mostly Live.”
As with their music, Veranda Panda’s commitment to authenticity extends to the visual elements of their work. The Ascension EP artwork is an original piece by prominent Durban street artist That Dam Vandal, a testament to their passion for supporting real artists and treating their work with integrity.
You can stream/download the Ascension EP HERE.
More info about Veranda Panda
Veranda Panda is a high-voltage husband-and-wife duo from Durban, South Africa. With Liam on production, vocals, harmonica, and DJ gear, and Jane on electric violin, piano, and vocals, they create original, genre-bending electronic music that’s deeply rooted in storytelling and shared experience. Their work is inspired by their home in KwaZulu-Natal, blending classical training, Celtic heritage, and African rhythms into something unmistakably their own.
Their hits “Sugarbee,” “Dopamine,” “Chocolate Mermaid,” “Pineapple Sunday,” “Carry Me,” and “Right Here Now” have earned them national radio play and chart success. Veranda Panda are festival favourites, having performed at Splashy Fen, Rocking The Daisies, Oppikoppi, Up The Creek, ParkLive, Get Lucky Summer, and more. Recently, they’ve taken their sound global, including a headline performance at Saarang 2025 in India.
Having supported some of South Africa’s top acts — from Goldfish and Jeremy Loops to GoodLuck and Mango Groove — Veranda Panda have cemented their status as one of the most exciting and engaging live acts in the country.
With Ascension, Veranda Panda rise boldly, colourfully, and unapologetically, inviting the world to join them on this next chapter of their sonic journey.
Watch this space for updates in the Music News category on SA Music Zone.
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