Music
Blaq Diamond: Authentic South African Afro-pop
Mbube and Maskandi find a fresh home in the duo's sound
Blaq Diamond - made up of Ndumiso Mdletshe and Sphelele Dunywa - fuse Maskandi, Mbube and other traditional elements into their pop-leaning iteration of afro soul. Fittingly, they describe their sophomore album 'Umuthi' as "Mbube, African sounds from the mountains." We caught up with them to shed light on their journey so far and gain some insight into their music-making processes.
The multi-faceted duo pride themselves on having full creative control over their art, having honed their skills since they first started in high school. "It's probably been a straight ten years," Mdu reveals. "We are full time now and produced, mixed and mastered this album. We really enjoy making music and we're always making music."
We wanted to make sounds that would heal people
The result of that dedication is a sophomore offering filled with gripping storytelling and alluring melodies. After a strong first impression, Umuthi is a follow up album more about solidifying and evolving their sound. "The title of the album basically means the medication," they share. "We wanted to make sounds that would heal people... that would take people back to their roots but at the same time not move too far away from popular culture."
Blaq Diamond
© supplied by Ambitiouz Entertainment
With influences as varied as Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shwi noMtekhala and Zola striking a balance was key to Umuthi's construction. "Sonically, we were trying to take our sound to the next level - making it more pop but still authentic," they say. That goal is reflected in the feature list with Igcokama Elisha, Cici, Thee Legacy and Sjava each contributing to Umuthi. "With Sjava it happened organically. He came through to the studio after a show and we did "Memeza". Later we also had Jabulani - Thee Legacy's lead singer - in studio and he came up with the "Sbhekane" idea. We laid down the vocals and basically freestyled on top of the 'hampe hampe' rhythm." While that song is owed to happenstance, the conceptual "Love Letter" displays the depth of Blaq Diamond's storytelling abilities.
Blaq Diamond
© supplied by Ambitiouz Entertainment
"Love Letter was an old joint we wrote before we recorded "Ibhanoyi". It's a song about being in prison, away from your lover and trying to reach out to her. Making the video was crazy - it’s like a short film. It took us a week and the experience was really dope with the amount of work you have to put in and us acting and stuff." With such vivid storytelling on "Love Letter" and their use of uniquely African melodies, Blaq Diamond are at the forefront of South Africa's new wave of culturally-infused music. What matters more to the duo than the preciousness of their artistry is maintaining their bond throughout their musical journey. "Before we even started making music, we were friends. More than anything we have a brotherly relationship - that’s what we're about."
