Something new, thanks to working with Bra Hugh
MI CASA front-man J’Something has been blessed with plenty of special moments in his career.
He’s picked up several awards with his band, worked with some of the country’s most renowned musicians, and has travelled the globe performing to thousands of fans. But none of these moments can rival the front-man’s most recent experience.
This week, Joao da Fonseca, aka J’Something, and Hugh Masekela teamed up to collaborate on a track called Heaven in You, which pays tribute to the beauty of South Africa and its people.
The song was created in less than 48 hours, as part of the Mercedes-Benz #EveryTerrain challenge, which sees local stars venturing across South Africa and tackling every terrain.
This time, Bra Hugh, as he is affectionately known, and J’Something took to the south coast of the country, Tsitsikamma, to find inspiration for their newest collaboration.
Chatting to the Saturday Star this week, Fonseca said it was an honour to have worked alongside a musician that he has idolised and looked up to for years.
“In all honesty this moment has been the highlight of my career,” Fonseca said.
“Listening to Bra Hugh talk about South Africa as his ‘first love’, witnessing the beauty he sees in everything – the land, the people, the endless opportunities – and then watching him translate this passion into music was awe-inspiring.”
Fonseca added that the song tells of the music icon’s love for his homeland, despite his exile during the country’s troubled past.
“The song as a whole is a love letter from Bra Hugh to South Africa, written by me, and inspired by this iconic man that is Hugh Masekela. You have to listen to it.
“South Africa is beautiful. While travelling the country with Bra Hugh, it really felt as if we were in a piece of heaven. But mainly this stemmed from Bra Hugh constantly praising how beautiful the scenery was.”
The Mi Casa front-man added that the song was one of the best he’s written to date. “In terms of writing, I would say yes, when you take into account the message behind it. And the fact that Bra Hugh himself thinks it’s great surely means something.”
“Heaven in You is more than just a great song. I wanted to write a love letter from Hugh Masekela for South Africa that captured his relationship with the country and my respect, love and gratitude that I have for this land.
“I hope that this song will inspire people to love and appreciate every curve of this beautiful country.”
So what was it like enjoying a road trip with one of the country’s most iconic musicians?
“It was such an honour getting to spend time with Bra Hugh and asking him all the questions I ever wanted to ask him. So, all in all, the time spent for me was priceless.
“The man is so happy. So hard-working. So fit! I hope I can emanate just a tad of what he has at his age. What a legend!”