HE HAS led the way in establishing a global presence in vocal house music and some even call Black Coffee a music genius.
The name on his ID document reads Nkosinathi Maphumulo and this internationally recognised DJ and producer was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, but grew up in Mthatha in Eastern Cape.
He recently launched his triple-disc album, Africa Rising, after a four-year break from his last release.
Sowetan spoke to him about his latest album, launched on Tuesday at Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg, a venue where he recently launched his collaboration with a coffee brand in winter.
"I did not have to put pressure on myself to release an album that I would never be happy with. I did not want (to hastily) release an album because everyone was doing it, and besides I was making preparations for the Africa Rising DVD."
On his latest album Black Coffee said his fans would get the same quality compositions he was known for.
"It consists of collaborations with (dance sensation) Zakes Bantwini, Thiwe Mbola, and US musician Kenny Bobien, among other talents."
He said this was the biggest project he had ever undertaken and it had influences from his travels around the world. Discs one and two are live audio tracks from the recordings of the Africa Rising DVD at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where he was accompanied by a full 24-piece orchestra, while the third disc features some new tracks. Black Coffee believes that South Africans underestimate their talents.
"With house music we must work harder to produce material of an international standard. I have been to (many) countries where they play South African house music, which shows how people appreciate our sound."
Black Coffee studied music at Natal Technikon (now called Durban University of Technology), majoring in jazz, but dropped out before earning his diploma. His aim was to try and deepen his overall understanding of music and advance his music theory.
In his earlier career Black Coffee and Thandukwazi "Demor" Sikhosana and Mnqobi "Shota" Mdabe were back-up vocalists for renowned guitar maestro Madala Kunene. They later formed an urban soul trio called Shana.
He is married to actress and the mother of his child Mbali Mlotshwa and often travels with them to gigs to try and get a balance in his career and family life.
Black Coffee's gone global
HE HAS led the way in establishing a global presence in vocal house music and some even call Black Coffee a music genius.
The name on his ID document reads Nkosinathi Maphumulo and this internationally recognised DJ and producer was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, but grew up in Mthatha in Eastern Cape.
He recently launched his triple-disc album, Africa Rising, after a four-year break from his last release.
Sowetan spoke to him about his latest album, launched on Tuesday at Emoyeni Conference Centre in Parktown, Johannesburg, a venue where he recently launched his collaboration with a coffee brand in winter.
"I did not have to put pressure on myself to release an album that I would never be happy with. I did not want (to hastily) release an album because everyone was doing it, and besides I was making preparations for the Africa Rising DVD."
On his latest album Black Coffee said his fans would get the same quality compositions he was known for.
"It consists of collaborations with (dance sensation) Zakes Bantwini, Thiwe Mbola, and US musician Kenny Bobien, among other talents."
He said this was the biggest project he had ever undertaken and it had influences from his travels around the world. Discs one and two are live audio tracks from the recordings of the Africa Rising DVD at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, where he was accompanied by a full 24-piece orchestra, while the third disc features some new tracks. Black Coffee believes that South Africans underestimate their talents.
"With house music we must work harder to produce material of an international standard. I have been to (many) countries where they play South African house music, which shows how people appreciate our sound."
Black Coffee studied music at Natal Technikon (now called Durban University of Technology), majoring in jazz, but dropped out before earning his diploma. His aim was to try and deepen his overall understanding of music and advance his music theory.
In his earlier career Black Coffee and Thandukwazi "Demor" Sikhosana and Mnqobi "Shota" Mdabe were back-up vocalists for renowned guitar maestro Madala Kunene. They later formed an urban soul trio called Shana.
He is married to actress and the mother of his child Mbali Mlotshwa and often travels with them to gigs to try and get a balance in his career and family life.
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