INTERVIEW: Hammarsdale gets some love from The Joy’s latest six track EP
South African music band The Joy, that hails from KwaZulu Natal’s Hammarsdale, have written and released a love letter to their hometown.
In a form of an EP, dubbed Hammarsdale, the six track compilation reminisces back to their days while growing up in the township and although theirs was just for entertainment, their popularity spread across and they became the flavour of any township celebration.
The five member band connected during their school days, being connected by music and the need to keep occupied. Like any childhood, memories were created that inspired the soothing songs.
Speaking to band member Duzie, real name Melokuhle Mkhungo, the star said they were inspired by their roots and the songs that are normally sung there. While also looking up groups such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The emergence of The Soil further inspired them to merge both these band;s sounds to produce what they dub as modern acapella with traditional music in it.
“The EP is all about our lives back home, although most of the topics we sing about are universal. We used our own experiences but equally believe that these songs have the power of reflection into one’s life.
“We didn’t take that long to write the music on the EP because we were able to complete two songs in the studio. So we completed it well in advance, and then started the journey of working towards releasing it,” he said.
Their collaborative writing process sees varying talents emerge, with Duzie stating that their strength as a group lies there. He said the group is proud of the outcome.
“Our motivation to even forge this group was always just about music.I’d be lying if I ever said that we aimed to be where we are today. The passion has elevated our efforts,” he said.
Their breakout single Isencane lengane, released in 2019, has opened many doors for the five singers that Duzie said he could not imagine. These include international travels.
“The song shocked us even. That song was composed in a very playful and relaxed manner in class. It started trending and gained us popularity.
“Between that time and now, we have grown in understanding music, in creating music and in our messaging. When we started singing, we weren’t as good in writing and we always sang in acapella. But our journey forced us out of our comfort zone, to learn how to write, how to incorporate different elements and subject matter,” he said.
Coming from an under-resourced township, that has a streak of rural in it, music became an outlet for them to entertain themselves.
“There aren’t a lot of spaces to keep busy with in our kind of township, music became a deterrent from all the bad that we could have easily fallen victim of. Music saved us,” he said.