We’re very excited to present a premiere release from the talented Sibusile Xaba on new South African label Mushroom Hour Half Hour.
‘Swaziland’ is the 8th track on the first part of Xaba’s incoming double album – An Open Letter to Adoniah and Unlearning – due for release on August 4th. The Pretoria guitarist masterfully blends fragmented lines and repeated phrases with poignant, scatting vocals. As is similar across the rest of this first body of work, it is the lyrical guitar playing in this track that is the captivating focus. Xaba conjures a softly-stated and other-worldly sound evoking the series of dreams that he says inspired him.
The recordings are hosted by a label channelling the spirit of ‘Malombo’; a movement of independent cultural resistance in South Africa in retort to the state-sanctioned racism of the 1960s. It was led by prodigal guitarist Philip Tabane and saw artists steer away from the American-influenced jazz of the 50’s and instead return to the indigenous sounds of their homeland opting for the traditional malombo drums as opposed to western kits and jazz standards.
Sibusile Xaba reflects the broader, Malombo-inspired approach that frames the Mushroom Hour Half Hour ethos. As a mentor to Xaba, you can hear echoes of Tabane’s minimalist style across the two albums and no more so than in ‘Swaziland’ with the wrong-footing ‘malombo’ drum patterns.
The message behind the music is simple and powerful. It offers not solutions or answers but rather opens a dialogue about the relationship between love of the self and universal love. Can we by loving oneself set ourselves on a path to understanding the true nature of human beings and the universe that surrounds us?
As Xaba relates:
“I feel the music is surrounded by the motive of self-introspection, politely yet urgently emphasizing the importance of acknowledging self and the loving of self, unconditionally…. Do you love yourself, with all your imperfect perfections? Are you able to accept and embrace the perspectives of others? Can you truly let go of it all and be still with self?
I feel the music is in line with the divine change that’s in the air, a natural transformation among humanity, a quest to recreate and redefine a perfect world with pure equality, happiness and unconditional love for all.
The message is love and those who chose love will love this project, they will hear the message quite clear. It will reaffirm things & thoughts. It will heal (‘’deal with self and you will be healed, it is a reminder that you are the universe and you possess all the power and strength to heal, to heal thyself). It is up to us to becalm our true human nature, we are loving beings.”
Orlando DM