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'Nostalgic moments' hits all the right notes

CAN you imagine how the music of late icon Miriam Makeba would sound like if she were 21 today?

But maybe that is taking it a bit too far. Make up a picture in your mind of how Sophiatown would look like in 2014.

This is what informed the point of departure for acappella group The Soil as they embarked on recording their second album Nostalgic Moments.

The trio, Buhlebendalo Mda and brothers Luphindo and Ntsika Ngxanga went for a sound that captured the old Sophiatown mood in 2014.

With the album, the group breathes fresh air into the local music scene.

The fusion of various styles, such as laidback urban contemporary music, will take fans down memory lane.

"When we planned for this one, we asked ourselves questions like how would the era of Makeba sound like in 2014?" says Ntsika.

It took The Soil three years to conceptualise the idea and the results are impressive. Luphindo confirms that touring has opened up their minds and that is why their second offering has a bit of maturity.

He says that in Nostalgic Moments, they have tried to unite "everyone", especially in their second track titled We Are One. The new album features multiple Grammy Award-winning outfit Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Hamba Uyosebenza. On the trackSusan, they roped in rap star Khuli Chana.

In defining Hamba Uyosebenza , Ntsika says the song does not only encourage people to work hard, but urges them to stand up against injustices.

"Basically, the song says if you see someone stranded or being raped, stand up and fight. Don't just look away," says Luphindo.

"Working with Mambazo was special for us. We were just taking the blessings of the Grammy Awards. In spite of all their success, both locally and internationally, Mambazo remain humble."

Another track that is well produced and has a message is Andinanto Esandleni. The song is actually derived from a Methodist Church hymn Wakrazulwa Ngenxa Yam. The lyrics speak about how people are pushed by situations to wrongdoing.

"It looks at the issue of how young people's lives are being destroyed by drugs such as nyaope and wunga," says Luphindo.

Mda points out that the album shows their composing and producing prowess.

She says: "This time, we gave ourselves time because we wanted to come up with something different."

About the emergence of a great number of a cappella groups, The Soil says they are not threatened.

Mda explains: "We want to believe that we opened a path where there wasn't any. For us, we just want to concentrate on our craft."

Their music has endless permutations of arrangements and thrives on perfectly weaved melodies.

They define their style of music as kasi soul. Their music features an eclectic mix of genres such as jazz, hip-hop, Afro-pop and soul.

Their self-titled debut album sold more than 20000 copies. The band members, who all come from Soweto, met more than seven years ago at high school.

As much as their music is doing well locally, The Soil is also fast establishing itself internationally. They are currently touring the UK with dates in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle.

They recently performed at New York's Apollo Theatre as part of Africa Now Festival with rapper Tumi and songstress Simphiwe Dana.

 

For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays

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