‘Mash’ new album close to ‘community experiences’
JAZZ musician Sibusiso “Mash” Mashiloane has released his latest album, Closer To Home, which is a celebration of the different cultures he was exposed to growing up.
Mash is no stranger to the music industry, having released two albums, but said his latest offering was different.
“This album is close to community experiences. It’s about the stories of the communities I have stayed in and the different cultures I have been exposed to, which was the Ndebele community, Swatis, Zulus, and a small Xhosa community.
“Amanz’ Olwandle was about freedom of expression and Rotha was mainly an exploration of Coltrane harmonies and making them musical,” he said.
With this album, Mash tries to define South African jazz, which is in line with his PhD research topic – “Characterising South African Jazz”.
Born in Bethal in Mpumalanga, Mash grew up on a farm in Ermelo with his aunt.
“I was instructed to be responsible at a very young age and to fear God. As a young boy I believed in miracles and knew only God is able to do the unimaginable, and that he is controlling the universe and its people,” he said of his childhood.
A lover of music from a young age, he always knew he would one day make music.
“We had music at every occasion, and it was always played in our home. My mother, aunt and my brothers loved music, my brothers wouldn’t drink any alcohol without music playing in the background, and it was usually jazz or blues. In primary school I had already told my acquaintances that I would study music and make music for films and teaching,” he said.
For Mash, the prospect of having a career in music started off like many great singers of our time, in church.
He said: “I recall one day during a church crusade I signed up to do a vocal rendition. I am sure it was a mess, but there was passion. Luckily the musicians from church were keen to teach me the little they knew.”
Mash wrote some of the songs on Closer To Home in 2006 when he was in the US on an educational exchange programme.
“This is a peoples’ album, it’s for everyone and is not based on any genre.
“It’s for South Africans to take pride in their uniqueness in music, and it’s for other countries to hear and learn about us,” he said.