Langa Mavuso on his upcoming album: “A story of grief, acceptance and receiving new love.”
Music, to Langa Mavuso, is more than just releasing words embedded on beautiful melodies accompanied by his beautiful sultry voice. It is a process of expression, of healing and freeing himself. His music has always been based on his personal or lived experiences.
His latest single, ‘You Live On’, is another personal song that he reveals carried a lot of struggled with it.
“It was the most painful thing to do, which is why I struggled. So when I realised this fact, I was honest enough to call on my friend Manana and I said ‘hey man, I’ve got the words and I got the story but the song is not coming together. Will you piece it together for me?’. He was my go-to person simply because he knows me, he knows us and he really understands this from all perspectives. So he agreed,” he said.
The making came right at the crux of his healing journey, where he was grappling with all that had happened.
The grief that Langa, real name Nkosinathi Nhlakanipho Mavuso, is healing from is the death of celebrated chef and media personality Lentse Bhengu-Mafoko who passed on in February this year. The two were together for seven years.
“Every single song that I put out is either a story that I have lived through or desire for my life. So looking within is probably the most important thing in my writing process because truth and vulnerability have a power to free people. And it is that honesty that has allowed me to free myself from things that often people find themselves caged by.
“When ‘You Live On’ was born, I was praying and I needed refuge. In that moment, God spoke to me through the Word about acceptance and that as a believer, I can’t cry like a hopeless person who doesn’t have a God. What also came over me were the words that I had heard before that ithemba alidanisi ( which means hope does not disappoint).
“These are words I heard from the beautiful actress Masasa Mbangeni. In that statement, she also said ‘I always remember to remain hopeful. That even though life’s challenges may knock me down again an again, but I am hopeful and willing to go through the journey.’ So, I am hopeful and willing to go through any journey. I am not afraid of hard,” he said.
The single, he shares, has been received extremely well and with that he is grateful that he is able to live his life truthfully and for that to received with appreciation.
And as someone who has found freedom in music, he always wants to extend the very same freedom to everyone who consumes his art. His upcoming album, that he will release next year, is anchored on his story.
“It really is a beautiful album that takes us through my latest journey. It begins with my grief and then moves into the exploration of acceptance and then looking for love. It gets to a point of finally receiving new love, which is the place that I find myself in now. It really is a beautiful album that I am proud of,” he said.
“Music has played a huge part in making sure that I overcome my grief. But I also do believe that there are many other elements at play, my support system, my music family (fans), the music, family and prayer. These together have all played a major part in bringing me to this better place.”
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