Latest news with #SamthingSoweto
IOL News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Camera-shy Samthing Soweto considers skipping visuals for masterpiece ‘Touch is a Move (Good Morning)'
Samthing Soweto says he might skip releasing visuals for his new album "Touch is a Move (Good Morning)" because he's "camera-shy." Image: Samthing Soweto Instagram South African singer and storyteller Samthing Soweto (real name Samkelo Mdolomba) recently took to Instagram to share a surprising and heartfelt revelation about his creative process. In a post that caught the attention of his fans and followers, he wrote: 'Mina, I'm actually camera-shy. So instead of shooting videos for 'Touch is a Move', I'm thinking I might just let it be and focus on the next album. Thoughts?' The post sparked immediate conversation online, with fans both understanding his hesitation and passionately encouraging him to reconsider. For many, 'Touch is a Move: Good Morning' is more than just music - it's a cinematic and spiritual experience deserving of visual storytelling. Released on July 4, the album marks Samthing Soweto's return with his first full-length album in five years. Deeply introspective and lush with layered storytelling, the album reflects themes of growth, resilience, childhood and the rituals that shape our daily lives. Spanning 17 tracks, the project serves as a follow-up to his 2020 EP, 'Danko!', and a spiritual continuation of the groundbreaking 2019 album, 'Isphithiphithi', which helped solidify his place in the modern South African music canon. True to its name, the album unfolds like a day in the life - both metaphorically and narratively. The "Touch is a Move" concept draws from childhood games, echoing the unspoken rule that once a move is made, it must be followed through - no second-guessing, no take-backs. It becomes a metaphor for commitment, responsibility and the courage to act with intention. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The "Good Morning" half of the title is rooted in a personal practice Soweto started in 2023: a daily morning greeting to his fans online, fostering connection and grounding both him and his audience in routine and presence. Together, these ideas frame an album that is as philosophical as it is musical. At its core, the album is a sonic memoir. The album tracks a day in the life of a five-year-old Samkelo - a fictionalised version of the artist as a child in the early 1990s. Through a series of interludes and evocative songs, listeners meet characters like uMama, uGogo, bhut' Lungisa, sis' Amina and sis' BhiBhi - all seen through the eyes of a child still discovering the world. 'As young Samkelo drifts off to sleep, he reflects on his day, his family and his ultimate wish to belong. The day ends and so does the album - gently, intimately and joyfully,' reads a press statement accompanying the album's release. Despite the richness of the narrative and visuals embedded in the music, Soweto's reluctance to shoot videos sparked a wave of creative suggestions from fans: Zazi Cooks proposed: 'Make an animated video, we have a ton of great animators in SA!' Tumelo Peane offered: 'Hire actors and just appear somewhere performing in the background, your songs tell great stories anyway.' Khanya Greens passionately commented, 'The album really deserves a few videos. You can shoot your scenes alone and intimate, and the other scenes with actors. "I truly love the storytelling element in the album, and it would be really special to see that come alive in a couple of nice hearty music videos. That being said, I'd love another album because I play this one from start to finish many times a day 😂.' Rendy Rex suggested thinking even bigger: 'The album deserves a short film, not just a video. Those family interludes would really slap.' Bravo Le Roux, a fellow artist, chimed in with humour: 'At least give us shows so we can take the videos ourselves, ke, bra yam (my brother).' Soweto-born Mdolomba has always charted his own path. A former member of The Soil and one of SA's most distinctive vocalists, he blends elements of soul, jazz, R&B and indigenous music into work that resonates across generations. His artistry is often marked by deep vulnerability, a commitment to authenticity and a sense of place rooted in memory and community.
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Samthing Soweto on finally being able to open up to his fans on his new album
Samthing's previous albums have all been personal to some extent; however, this one takes listeners on a trip into his childhood. Samthing Soweto released his third studio album, Touch is a Move (Good Morning), a month ago, and unlike his previous work, this project lets his listeners into his world in ways he previously hadn't. 'If I was closed off, part of the reason is that I exist in a very tough industry and I felt that I had to. Now, if I'm opening up, it's only because I've found a way to deal with it. The best way to deal with it is to keep the main thing the main thing,' Samthing tells The Citizen. His previous albums have all been personal to some extent; however, this one takes listeners on a trip into his childhood in Soweto. ALSO READ: Samthing Soweto serenades fans with intimate Twitter Spaces performance Samthing closing off himself He says he was closed off because he didn't trust the industry as a whole. 'The music industry is a very tough place to be in. It's tough to exist and to be happy and to be open in an industry for an artist,' he says. With nearly two decades as a professional musician now, Samthing has somewhat found a balance in being able to exercise his artistry while also handling fame. 'I'm a very practical person and, as an artist, I feel like sometimes that is not expected of me,' he says. 'They actually expect me to be very artistic in everything, including my decisions and to be passionate and to just be propelled by 'the spirit'. And I do have my fair share of passions, but some of my creative decisions are not propelled by passion alone.' He says the element of entertainment has played a part in his decision to do this album now. 'They [decisions] are also propelled by wanting to make content that most people will like. Because there is nothing more painful than doing something for an audience and they don't resonate with it.' ALSO READ: Samthing Soweto's 'Isphithiphithi' makes Apple Music history An idealist with a practical outlook His above statement holds. Samthing came into the industry as a member of an a cappella group, The Soil. He then released music as part of a trio, The Fridge, and also released music as a solo artist. His music with The Fridge and his earlier solo work is the kind that a bohemian audience is fond of, not so much the widespread audience of Amapiano, which he instantly attracted when he released Isiphithiphithi in 2019. Songs like I'm Feeling Down and Dreamin' of U are worlds apart from hits like Lotto and Akulaleki. However, despite their sonic differences, Samthing's gentle, infectious voice and shrewd artistic genius are a mainstay in his music, regardless of the tempo or genre. If he were a cricketer, Samthing would be an all-rounder in the class of Jacques Kallis: lethal with the hits as a prime fast bowler and grounded in the art, as a purist Test batsman. 'I felt like telling a very practical story about my life would be very interesting for my audience. I do understand that I don't give them a lot to work with sometimes, I leave a lot to imagination.' 'So ja, I felt like maybe people might be interested in finding out what it felt like for me to be a five-year-old and to live my life at the time. To be honest, that's a story I often tell to people that are close to me.' ALSO READ: Mango Groove brings its 40th anniversary party to Jozi after an 'overwhelming' response in Cape Town Radio element Interludes in albums are nothing new, but for this album, Samthing roped in former Ukhozi FM radio drama producer Mpumelelo Ngidi. 'Through her help and her sitting down with me and understanding that I often talk about my past, she was able to build a version of my story for me that I could use in the music,' says Samthing. Through the seven interludes on the album, listeners are given a seat in the Mdolomba household. From the snoring of his uncle on Goodmorning, to him bickering with his sisters about wanting to watch TV, it is a world that his fans didn't know of. The most adorable of the skits on the album is probably Goodnight, where we're inside the family's nightly prayer. What makes it adorable and humorous is hearing a young Samthing listing his trivial prayer requests and his granny praying for everything and everyone that comes to her mind. 'I did have a granny who prayed long, who prayed about everything that we were going through in the 90s, from politics, to churches… everything and anything she knew about she would mention in the prayer. We'd start as the whole family praying together but for the next 15 minutes she'll go on by herself,' shares Samthing. ALSO READ: Wedding bells for Maskandi star Khuzani Mpungose A love album and a personal story He says the first draft of the interludes was to create a story based on love. 'Mpumelelo listened to the music and decided that she'd create a story about how these two [lovers] met. It was a nice telenovela type [of] story,' says the muso. 'How I did it was to reflect the connection between love stories of a man my age with my challenges, my life story my day-to-day and my past as a child.' 'The person that I am today is because of the things that happened in my past. Through her [Mpumelelo] help I was able to piece together a story that would make sense that could be used to marry the two concepts, a love album and a personal story.' His words are echoed by the eighth track on the album, Amagents, which is an ode to his daughter, where he warns her about some of the dangers of men – men who are like him. One of the better songs on the album, Ndandatho, is a song that Samthing heard being sung by a singer on TikTok, Sicelo, who is homeless. 'He came up with that song; I saw it on TikTok on a video. He was singing that song on the streets of Pietermaritzburg for money, he was basically basking. That melody never escaped me; from the time I heard it sounded amazing.' Sicelo is credited as the co-writer of the song, under his full name Sphelele Zondi. On the legal side of things, Samthing sourced the help of RAMS Attorneys. 'Samthing Soweto is a long-standing client of the firm,' RAMS Attorneys told The Citizen. RAMS Attorneys provided legal services to Samthing in negotiation and closing of agreements with producers, features, distributors, and publishing-related aspects. The firm didn't want to comment on the dispute between their client and DJ Maphorisa, where there were allegations of unpaid royalties, misrepresentation of contributions, and a lack of transparency in their working relationship regarding the song Amalanga Awafani. NOW READ: WATCH: Modise Sekgothe, a poet equipped in the exercise of digging deep and baring himself naked
IOL News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Inside the making of 'Touch Is a Move: Good Morning' - Samthing Soweto unpacks the creative journey
Samthing Soweto takes you on a nostalgic journey through his childhood in Soweto, unveiling the creative process behind his album 'Touch Is a Move: Good Morning'. Image: Supplied Samthing Soweto (real name Samkelo Mdolomba) opens up about the creation of his latest body of work, 'Touch Is a Move: Good Morning', his fans, and working with Sicelo on 'Ndandatho'. Mdolomba's sophomore album, 'Touch Is a Move: Good Morning', is a seventeen-track masterful blend of storytelling and music that takes listeners to the vibrant streets of Soweto in the 1990s through young Mdolomba's point of view. The storytelling begins with the album art, featuring the 'Deda' singer on the floor of his childhood home, where his family gathered for a prayer to wrap up the night. The album kicks off like a typical day in Soweto, narrated by a young Mdolomba and his brother Bhut'Lungisa. The pair play a crucial role in capturing the energetic morning vibes, slowly transitioning into the reflective moments of the evening through the interludes included in the album. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The day in Soweto is experienced by a young Samkelo, and listeners get to experience what it was like to live in my family's home in the 90s. It starts in the morning when he wakes up, and it ends at night when the family prays,' Mdolomba explains the theme of the album. Through the series of interludes and songs, the narrative is woven together, taking listeners on a journey that they can vividly paint in their imagination. The interludes, which feature characters like uMama (mother), uGogo (grandmother), and sis' Amina, provide a glimpse into Mdolomba's childhood home, where the voice of young Mdolomba guides listeners through how different generations came together to share stories and wisdom. No, here are my older sisters and sis'Thembi. My mom. — Samthing Soweto (@samthingsoweto) July 18, 2025 The album's love songs are equally gripping, with each one exploring a different dimension of love. From the traditional vows of 'Ndandatho' to the playful exchanges of 'Swi', the artist showcases his versatility as a songwriter and a producer. The album's creation was not without its challenges, with Mdolomba working tirelessly to bring the project to life. 'It nearly killed me,' he jokes, but the end result was well worth the effort. The fans, too, played a significant role in motivating him to complete the album, with their enthusiasm and anticipation serving as a constant source of inspiration for him. 'I don't want to lie: I gave up so many times. At some point, I felt like it would never come and that I would never finish, but I eventually completed working on it in late 2024, and from that point on, things became a bit easier,' he shared. What also makes 'Touch Is a Move: Good Morning' truly special, however, is how 'Ndandatho' came to life. The love song features Sicelo, the original composer of the track. Mdolomba tracked him down after a video of him singing the song went viral on TikTok in 2021. Sicelo was living on the streets of Maritzburg at the time but the 'Amagents' hitmaker went out of his way to find him after taking interest in the video to talk to him about working together on the song and give him credit. 'Sicelo is the actual original composer of 'Indandatho'. I heard his version from a TikTok video, fell in love with it, and then made the recording that we have in the album. 'After I made it, I had to go find him to play it for him and you know, to include him in the credits as well as for us to talk about what the song meant to both of us,' he said. Another fun fact about his sophomore album is that the interludes were recorded for a radio drama, produced by Mdolomba and Mpumelelo Ngidi, a former producer of Ukhozi FM.
IOL News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Wake up to love: Samthing Soweto's 'Touch is a Move: Good Morning' explores nostalgia
Samthing Soweto's new album captures a day in Soweto and a collection of love songs. Image: Instagram. After a five-year hiatus, Samthing Soweto, real name Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba, makes his return to the music scene with the release of his highly anticipated second album, "Touch Is a Move: Good Morning". The album is deeply rooted in his personal philosophy, echoing a rule from games played in childhood: once you touched a piece, you had to make the move, no hesitation, no take-backs. The second phrase, "Good Morning", echoes a ritual Soweto initiated in 2023, a daily greeting to his online audience that has fostered community ties. Together, these themes frame an album dedicated to exploring the weight of words and routines in our lives. The journey of "Touch Is a Move: Good Morning" unfolds like a day in Soweto, beginning at dawn's early light and gracefully transitioning into the evening. "Told through a blend of interludes and songs, it follows a day in the life of five-year-old Samkelo in the early 1990s. We are introduced to uMama, uGogo, bhut' Lungisa, sis' Amina, and sis' BhiBhi through his eyes. We hear his thoughts, see his world and witness the wonder of living across different generations in his home," read a statement. With tracks such as "Ama Get Down" featuring Blxckie, 'Amagents', "Deda" and 'Indandatho' among others, the album captures the wonder of a community woven together across generations, evoking nostalgia and reverence for days gone by. The album gracefully concludes with "GoodNight", featuring a prayer led by uGogo as young Samkelo reflects on his day and family. "As young Samkelo drifts off to sleep, he reflects on his day, his family and his ultimate wish to belong. The day ends and so does the album - gently, intimately and joyfully," read the statement.
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Samthing Soweto ends the wait: ‘Deda' release date announced after two long years
Samthing Soweto has announced the release of his highly anticipated single, 'Deda'. Image: Instagram After two years of intense speculation and fervent public demand, South African singer-songwriter Samthing Soweto has announced the release of his highly anticipated single, "Deda". In a heartfelt address to fans, the musician took to the social media platform TikTok, confirming that the song will drop on Friday, 30 May. 'I just wanted to say that this Friday, we are dropping Deda,' Soweto said in his video, marking a significant moment for fans who have been longing for this release. "Deda" has been a topic of conversation in the South African music scene for some time, with the song trending on social media back in March, despite its unavailability on music streaming platforms. The unreleased amapiano track saw a leak in August 2023, heightening anticipation among supporters. The composition itself has been described as a deeply moving spiritual piece that transcends the typical dancefloor vibe, emanating as 'a prayer in rhythm, a soul cry wrapped in melody.' It speaks to themes of divine protection, love, and the unseen forces that guide our lives. The decision to release "Deda" comes in response to months of public outcry among fans who have repeatedly requested that he debut the highly anticipated track. In his announcement, Soweto expressed gratitude for fans' patience with a poignant message: 'It's here, it's finally here, thank you everyone for your patience. 🖤🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦' Reactions poured in from netizens, expressing a mix of excitement and cheeky frustration. One user, @intombi_yasemgazini, quipped, 'Why did we wait so long? Genuine question…' Another user, @b0k12fly, humorously added, 'Finally, you're the boss of gatekeeping for two years 😭😭😭😭😭.' As fans rallied their collective eagerness, @longlivekingv demanded, 'And the album? I mean it's been years! You owe us 🫵🏾😭!' Meanwhile, @linomta.t stated, 'We've been fighting for that song 😭😭 finally.' Last year, Soweto found himself in a public dispute with amapiano producer DJ Maphorisa regarding the credits for the song "Amalanga Awafani". Fans highlighted that his name was absent from the credits, sparking heated discussions on social media. The conflict arose from a disagreement over master rights, leaving him feeling sidelined. He later admitted to lying about DJ Maphorisa's contributions to his 2019 album "Isiphithiphithi", stating, 'I lied about Maphorisa's contributions to my project. He didn't produce anything.' Soweto explained that his dishonesty stemmed from insecurity, as he believed that being associated with Maphorisa would enhance his record sales. He also acknowledged that Kabza De Small, Howard, and Mas Musiq were responsible for 60% of the album's production. While this strategy initially boosted his sales, Soweto expressed regret, stating it cost him both his creative rights and dignity.
