Bongeziwe Mabandla - AmaXesha [LP]

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: BM051LP
Barcode: 3770026106143
Release Date: 16 Jun 2023
Genre: African Folk

 Lately, the South-African singer songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla has been making waves, including outside of his native country. He received very positive reviews for his third album, ‘Iimini’ (2020), alongside a number of enthusiastically received European shows.
 With his new album, ‘AmaXesha’, Mabandla shows that he has become the new face of Afro-folk; bringing original, modern, spiritual, danceable, melancholic though mostly joyous, sounds referencing African artists such as Jabu Khanyile, Bongo Maffin, Miriam Makeba, Simphiwe Dana, Thandiswa Mazwai, Salif Keita and Busi Mhlongo, but also with (Western) influences from Tracy Chapman, Damon Albarn, Lauryn Hill, Bon Iver, Geoffrey Gurrumul, Sinkane and Michael Kiwanuka.
 On ‘AmaXesha’, Mabandla has collaborated again with his friend / producer / multi-musician Tiago Correia-Paulo (originally from Mozambique), who takes care of most of the more modern and electronic soundscapes.
 Modest, traditional folk (with lyrics in his beautiful Xhosa language) remains the core basis, but by bringing this into a broader modern musical spectrum (with drum loops and
synthesizers), the characteristic ‘modern world music’ sound of Bongeziwe Mabandla, with his smooth, sensual, meditative and sweet voice, becomes a mix of funky folk, uplifting gospel, sweet soul, smooth jazz and atmospheric urban beats.
 Two shows at the 100 Club in London in June (one sold out already).
 Press - Reviews & features in Voice Magazine, Monocle, Mahogany, The Guardian (Global World Album Of The Month), Huck, Nataal, Songlines.
 Online - Colors session.

Tracklisting
Sisahleleleni (part I)
Sisahleleleni (part II)
Ukuthanda Wena
Xesha (part I)
Noba Bangathini
Xesha (part II)
Hlala
Ndikhale
Thula
Soze
Hamba
Libali
Ubukho Bakho
Xesha (part III)