Share

Fall under Mpho Sebina's spell

accreditation
A Black Butterfly: Neo is the title of her debut E.P, which means saint and her sound is certainly saint-like
pictures:supplied
A Black Butterfly: Neo is the title of her debut E.P, which means saint and her sound is certainly saint-like pictures:supplied

Phumlani S Langa is #Trending’s resident hater. So whenever he gets excited about an artist’s work, we think it fitting to send him to talk to the person responsible. In this case, soul singer Mpho Sebina has the magical melodies to soften the most seasoned of haters. 

A few weeks ago, I was invited to an event that would end in a way that I wasn’t ready for. A silent concert that involved everyone in attendance rocking headphones to take in a live set.

I wasn’t feeling it, but this concept is revolutionary, and was weighted even further by the artist on stage.

Soulful silhouette

1

The silent concert was an outdoor performance as the sun dipped behind the mountains and darkness cloaked the serene venue. A figure approaches the microphone wearing a trench coat and jeans, her hair braided. She stands in front of a screen with graphics flashing on it, her face barely visible, adding to the mystery. I’d never heard of Mpho Sebina. This silhouette put the small crowd under her spell, a hypnosis of harmony amplified by the headphones.

The delay and vocals bounce from one speaker to another with precise rhythmical timing. Her band is sturdy as they play a selection of songs from her potent debut project, Neo (2017). A dusty-sounding sax, not too gritty but just enough to give the overall sound a sincere groove.

There’s a brother on the keys and a homie on drums who both play to support Mpho’s delicate vocals. My mind is flooded with thoughts of romance and all this cuddly stuff that I try to avoid. But it feels so right and when she allows me to open my eyes again by bringing the ballad Loves Light to an end, I see all the people around me, equally paralysed by the simple but intensely honest poetry of Mpho.

Face to face with a sorceress of soul

1

Mpho Sebina is from Botswana, a 29-year-old who first caught the attention of patrons of the art when she fused classic songs from South Africa with classics from the US, such as Erykah Badu’s Over The Game, mashed with Lerato by Boom Shaka. Since then she has dropped an EP, Neo. It’s not lyrically intensive and the instrumentals don’t take a particular precedence. She doesn’t use strings of words or intricate metaphors.

The vocals and instrumentals are almost loosely strung together, barely clinging to each other until Mpho really opens up, allowing her capable band to accompany her towards a crescendo. They show this beautifully on Black Butterfly.

A few days after her performance, we meet at a small eatery in Fourways as she’s in town just chilling. She explains how she was once firmly in the rat race, holding down a job that was keeping her down.

“I have an honours degree in international business. I studied for five years in Malaysia. I worked a couple of jobs, but I quit. They were trash jobs like data capturing and client relations for an advertising company. It came to a point where I realised I don’t really care about yall’s logos,” she says.

Mpho had also been in and out of studios ever since a friend mentioned that her voice wasn’t half bad. So how does she delve into the crevices of her memories – both bitter and sweet – to harvest creative gems?

“A lot of us creatives are super sensitive beings so it’s easy to go into the feels. I’m an anxious person and so I write to try and counter those negative thoughts. It’s good to have an outlet for expression and this happens to be mine.”

For her first project, Neo, she spent time around the music her producer created and wrote based on what that made her feel.

“Writing No Evil was me feeling like things were just falling apart with my job, and so tapping into that was tough.”

She says being independent has taught her a lot. “I like being in control of what comes out and when. I do feel like I’m open to partnering with someone who can help me elevate things as I’d also like to build a house for my momma ... buy a Jeep and stuff,” she laughs.

She’s doing the Okavango Music Festival next month and intends releasing her debut album, Lôra, which means to dream in Setswana. Expect a single some time this month, either Do You or Gold.

“This album is dedicated to the dreamers. I’m hoping to instil that vibe, a positive vibe and chasing your dreams.”

She is also on the Homecoming Line Up in Pretoria this year. “I love that I have the opportunity to come out here as well as working back home.”

Our chat winds down as we discuss how Mpho opened for Laydsmith Black Mambazo two weeks ago.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you believe that the various planned marches against load shedding will prompt government to bring solutions and resolve the power crisis?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes
21% - 103 votes
No
79% - 399 votes
Vote