What may seem like recurring breaks from the music industry by muso Mlindo the Vocalist, always seems to be made up for by his return with a great body of work.
It all started when he went into hibernation after his widely successful debut album, Emakhaya, in 2018, only for him to return four years later with his self-titled album, Lindokuhle. Another successful delivery, he shares.
Now, two years later, he releases his leading single, ‘Isandla Ska Baba’, which he shares is taken from his upcoming third studio album that will be released at the end of May. An album he is working on with DJ Maphorisa.
The single is yet another relatable song from the award-winning star, which touches on the unending pandemic of gender-based violence, an issue he knows of as much as any other South African. Whether from close range or afar.
“We are working on a young project, and although we have a lot of great songs completed—that is because music is recorded on a daily basis—we are working on compiling the right songs that will suit this project. So, there is no title yet, nor do I know the number of songs that it will have, but we are careful on this part of the journey to put out a project that will make sense to someone who listens to it. We are paying serious attention to the messaging as well,” he said.
The single was already recorded almost two years ago, but Mlindo shares that the confidence to release it now came with the feature of Glen Makhafula, whom he refers to as malume’Makhafula (uncle).
Fun fact – Mlindo actually refers to everyone older than him as malume.
“The subject matter is a daily occurrence within our society that we have either been exposed to or heard about. So, this is just another way of using my craft to table this very serious issue for further discussion,” he said.
As far back as I can recall all interviews with Mlindo, he has always maintained a commitment to releasing music that heals. And yet it is this very craft that nearly devastated him when he went through depressive episodes in 2020—from management issues to passing out on stage—that saw him go home to recuperate.
While at home, in his mother and his late grandmother’s care, he created a personal body of work, or of healing, in his mother’s garage during the lockdown.
Lindokuhle, the album, represented him regaining control of his life.
The 27-year-old was only 23 years old when he was thrust into the limelight after a series of trending social media videos, with him also admitting that fame at such a young age can cause confusion.
But remaining relatable through his music was always an important aspect of his brand. Well, a lesson he learned from the late Riky Rick, or ‘umalum’Riky’ as he fondly calls him.
“My journey in music has taught me the importance of separating the stage star from who I really am. I am Lindokuhle, who is very content with a simple life, and I never want to confuse the two. That is why I am very open with my life; I speak candidly about my struggles and even openly share them with my followers.
“We all go through so much but would rather sweep issues under the rug and pretend like all is well. As much as I want my music to entertain, I also want it to act as some form of therapy for people.”
When asked who he runs to when he faces issues, he is quick to mention fellow musos like Sjava (or malum’Sjava), opening up also about how he has cultivated a pool of support from family to fans.
“I am in a very good place emotionally and mentally compared to where I come from. I consider this space very mature, having been able to understand things a lot better and I am well on my way of learning healthy ways to deal with stress, money problems, etc.
“I am very much at peace, and I am doing things that support that peace. I am not at all looking to chase clout, nor am I interested in trending and all those things,” he said.
Releasing music for him is always dictated by where he is in life and the hunger the fans have for his sound. On his upcoming project, people can expect the sound we have all come to love from him, with a hint of a soul-amapiano infusion.
“I am so excited with how everything is unfolding; I have come very far. After six years in the industry, being able to do what I love is a blessing I will never downplay.”
The big dream for Mlindo the Vocalist is to globalize his brand, learning different languages that can aid in his global delivery of his music. He is actively learning Swahili right now.
“On June 15, we are staging a one-man show at the SunArena, something I have never done, especially solo. This is something really exciting and equally challenging for someone like me who is not only innately shy but has somewhat always played it safe. I
feel like this is a new era of my career and life, and taking big steps is also a huge part of it. We are turning a new leaf, and it is really exciting,” he said.
Listen to ‘Isandla Ska Baba’ here.
