Grammy Award-winner Ndumiso Manana says the only change the internationally acclaimed gong brought with it is that people now take him and his craft a little bit more seriously.
“People are more willing to give me the opportunity to work with them. Especially as a writer because the Grammy award was my contribution to writing. It’s been a little life-changing but not as life-changing as people think at the same time,” he said.
Apart from that, in his mind, he is still the same creative with the same work ethic, who tells love and heartbreak stories, and produces music that does not conform.
His sophomore EP But Could the Moments in Between is exactly that, an honest reflection of everyday themes through music without looking too much inward but capturing the greater society's experiences.
“This EP is the second of three projects that are linked, with the first one being In the Beginning was the End, and the last one that will be a complete three-lined poem. The concept was that the first one explains the beginning of this story while the last one puts a full stop in it.
“But Could the Moments in Between is about the moments in between. When I was putting the songs together, I was thinking about how, sometimes when in a relationship or in our lives, we look at those as moments that lead to a certain destination. Forgetting that those days and those moments are happening and are equally important to our lives,” he says.
The 28-year-old from eSwatini has found a home in the busy city of Johannesburg where he has not only created a family for himself but also found his music tribe within the industry.
It is from this tribe that he has made the past nine years as a professional performer worthwhile.
“I knew music was a career that I would follow after I wrote and recorded my first song many years ago. The goal after studying music was never to pursue artistry, but after playing back the song I was convinced it was the career path to follow."
But also, not conforming to industry standards or changing the core of his sound has also made the journey a little tough.
“When I got to Joburg, I had meetings with different labels and when I would play them my music – this is now gearing up to releasing the first EP – the chats were, ‘we hear that your sound is really dope but maybe think about doing house music at first because people are not used to this sound. Give them something they are used to’. And initially, I would take offence to such things but I realised that 10 years down the line, I don’t want to be performing a genre that I am not happy making the music for,” he says.
The tenacious spirit in him kept pushing him stubbornly towards his sound that has collected him like-minded people.
Growing up, Manana would feel off varying musical genres – from classical and choral music, from neo-soul, pop to RnB during his high school days.
All these sounds, including studying jazz music, gave birth to his current sound, alternative RnB.
His second EP varies from warm acoustic sounds to songs that allude to dance floors of yesteryear. The extremely private singer describes himself as an honest, loyal person who loves watching and playing soccer. “A side of me that many people don’t know,” Manana says.
About his time in the industry, he says: "I think the industry is unkind but I don't think anyone should take that personally. Previously, I think I did take it personally when I started working with people or writing for different artists.
"I would take it personally when I didn’t get the recognition, or the playlisting or the love that I thought I should get. But I soon realised that it is really not personal. Once you find your people and find your team, it’s actually amazing.”
His last EP that completes the trilogy will be a fully fledged album, he says.
malibaa@sowetan.co.za
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