Bongeziwe Mabandla

0:04Hello and welcome to the special episode of the Monaco Weekly. I'm Fernando Gusto Pacheco, and for today's show, I speak with South African musician Bongezil Imabandla, who cleverly mixes African folk soul with electro music. He stopped by a Midori house during his recent visit to London.

0:38Bom Gazi, Uma Bandla. Welcome to Monaco Radio. A pleasure to have you here. I really enjoyed your latest album. But my first question to you, I want to know a bit more about you, like where are you from in South Africa? And then I love the music that comes from South Africa. I think it's a very special country music-wise. Tell me more about this kind of music genres from South Africa. I think it's such an interesting market to look at when it comes to music. Yeah, thanks for having me. Yeah, I do think South African music is very special. I think there's so many influences on South African music.

1:16But I just think music and song making has been sort of part of the culture of South African life. And also I just think not just music, I think dance. We have a very particular way of dancing. art, fine art as well I just think, yeah, the level of expression in South Africa is very high And I love how you guys use the electronic music in a way, it's very special it's a mixture of jazz, electro, soul but it's very particular to South Africa I feel How would you describe your music, by the way? I think my music, deep down is just soul music it has a lot of feelings a lot of emotion but I'm also influenced by so many different styles.

2:08I grew up making music more like a folk artist and now I think I've made the switch in doing music that's more experimental so it has a lot of elements like electro sometimes hip-hop but just generally the music what that is happening around the world infused with that very traditional, I would say, South African sound. Yeah, traditional but modern at the same time, right? Yeah, yeah. And I love that you sing in Kosa, right? Yes. That's the, which I find is quite unique because I know in South Africa we have quite a lot of official languages, but I think it sounds, there's something quite emotional and beautiful actually when it sang in Kosa as well.

2:51Yeah, thank you. No, it's beautiful. And let's talk about the new album. I know you're a very renowned artist in South Africa, your tours. sold out there. How has it been this experience? Because I feel people are interested in the music coming from South Africa now and you're here in Europe. So tell us, how has it been? Because I'm sure that your crowd here in Europe is not going to be just South Africans. I think there are a lot of people who are interested. Yeah, my new album, it's something that we made during the heavy lockdown. So that gave the album a very particular kind of sound and just the challenges around COVID, like really influence how the album sounds.

3:40Yeah, the album is very much an album about love and relationships, which is, I would say that's what the lyric content is about. And the sound is very experimental, I would say, with this new album. And it looks visually. I saw some of your videos as well. I mean, how important is that visual part for you? And I have to say, our listeners are not here, but you're wearing an incredible leather jacket. I love it. Thank you. Yeah, I do think, you know, the beauty of art music is not just the studio recording. It transcends into live performance, photography, visuals. Yeah, and I think I come from that background, you know, when I got into music, I was very much into being an actor and being interested in making films.

4:33So I think... You were an actor as well then? Yes, a bit, yeah, yeah. I just did the Balogi film, which premiered at Cannes. Yeah, so I think music for me is an extension of these many other different art forms, yeah. And I saw your latest album was produced by Motenbeek producer Thiago Correa Pombo. That's super interesting. So do you collaborate with musicians from other countries as well? I know it feels a very personal album you're singing, but you also try to look out for perhaps people from other countries as well to produce the album. Tell us how was to work with him in particular. You know, this is my third album working with him, and he was living in South Africa.

5:18And I think we just have a very special working relationship. and for a while I didn't really feel I was working with people that understood me so when I met him you know it just became special I think when you're a musician you need to work with a producer that that understands you musically but also understands you as a person and we also play live together so I think touring for the last few years like five six years I think yeah it brings a relationship we sort of gravitate to the same music and we talk about music and we talk about our feelings about life and I think that really contributes to even the album when somebody's got an understanding of who you are well I as I said I love the album I wanted to know is there a kind of perhaps a favorite track from the album i love one that is called i'm sorry if i'm saying this wrong a lala beautiful um what about what about do you do you have any track that perhaps it is special for you i know it's hard to pick a favorite yeah i do i would say i wonder uh there's a song called which is probably the second last song

6:49I love that song. I love it mainly for the lyrics. And Wukobako means your existence. And the song was really just like thinking about, you know, how I've had so many people, you know, sacrifice for me and avail themselves for me. and you realize, you know, I would have probably never made it if I didn't have these kinds of people. So it's a song that makes me think about my mom and my aunt, you know, all these people that, you know, they shaped your life without necessarily having to shape. Yeah, so I guess it's a gratitude song as well, yeah. That's fantastic. And sorry, Bungaziwe, just because I'm quite curious as well about music in South Africa in general, what kind of music do you listen from the country for example I have to say I love Brenda Farsi I know she's just from the 90s or 80s you know but I love her music but I wonder I would like to know other artists as well yeah I listen to a lot of artists and I'm obviously exposed to a lot of artists being South African but I would say my favorite artists some of my favorites from South Africa is definitely Busim Llongo Jabu Kanyile Simpi Wedana Tandi Swamazwai Matalagunene and then also I just listen I'm going to obviously forget so many other artists but yeah I think vocally South African music is also super rich and that's what I've loved about South African music is the sort of emotion in the voice and this sort of very specific kind of sound that can only be site specific basically It is very site specific because I mean when I look at the charts music can be quite generic, oh it can be from this country or this country but South Africa I don't know, feels different to me in a way What are your plans for the rest of the year?

8:59Of course you have the new album out you're here in London for a series of concerts, what next? Perhaps more touring? Yeah, it's going to be definitely that kind of touring year since the album dropped in May. So yeah, expecting to travel a lot more, tour a lot more. I know that this stage has been very much about promoting the album and doing a lot of interviews and introducing the songs and shooting videos. So I'm hoping that it's going to start to shift to people just mainly focusing on the album. in a live way. That's fantastic. Listen, Bongazio, a pleasure talking to you. Thank you. Thank you for coming here tomorrow.

9:42It's my pleasure, yeah. Amazing. That was Bongazio e uma Bandla. His latest album, A Maxesha, is out now. The show was edited by Sarah Nico and I am Fernando Augusto Bacheco. Thank you for listening.