Bongeziwe Mabandla releases his first single off his upcoming album “Noba Bangathini”
Singer/songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla is back with new music, releasing his first single ‘Noba Bangathini’ that is taken from his upcoming studio album. The single, described as a song about imperfections and loving an imperfect person, was Mabandla’s first pick as his favourite from the 14 songs he is yet to release.
“It’s a song about choosing love against any challenge you may face. It’s about seeing all the obstacles and heartache that comes with sharing your life with another, but still choosing to do so, in spite of it all,” said the award-winning muso.
“There’s definitely a link between this song and the last album, as they have the same sentiments. You know, it’s very much about relationships, and companionship. Yeah. I hope people relate to it the same way that they relate to Imini (which means days). The upcoming album’s subject matters are so strong because they really about things that we all experienced that everybody has sort of gone through.”
And with just a few months until the album’s release date, Mabandla says he is nervous, especially because of Imini’s success – adding that it is sometimes hard to outdo something that was as powerful as his previous album, judging by the reception received.
“So I am stuck in between nervous and excited. I’ve been working on this project for awhile and falling in love with it myself. So it’s quite vulnerable to finally share it with other people. We are finalising the mixing of the album and will master it sometime next week,” he said.
The untitled album started cooking during the lockdown and was inspired by the need to continue the subjects of love from Imini.
“Releasing this album now is really a combination of feeling like it’s time for new music and also a continuation of the last. With Imini being side A and this upcoming album being side B,” he said.
Mabandla’s glistening talent first came to the attention of the global audiences when he was named one of 10 finalists in the 2011 Radio France Internationale Discoveries Awards.
Over the past decade, Mabandla has steadily built a career that has seen him become known as the enigmatic spirit of African Soul, with his fanbase extending across the world.
Mabandla has since produced three albums, work that he says is measured against how artistic and interesting it is for both himself and his audience. Imini bagged him his second South African Music Award (SAMA), when it was named Best Alternative Album in July 2021.
Despite the pandemic constraints, the past two years have seen Mabandla continue to build his domestic and international live career with the sold out sign put up at shows in the UK, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland in 2021 while his November 2021 SA tour became the among the fastest selling of a solo contemporary South African artist. A highlight of 2020 was a moving performance for the ColorsxStudios’ HOME/BRED series during the global lockdown that was later featured in the Best Of edition of this global platform.
“In terms of music, I feel like I am finally in a good place. To know that I can release music to an audience that is anticipating it, in a good way. I feel like I’m growing with every project that I undertake. It’s an amazing space of growth, especially the songwriter space where I think I’m really developing and finding my sound, my space, lyrically and musically,” a place that took years to get to, he said.
Stream his latest single here: platoon.lnk.to/noba_bangathini
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