A beautiful dedication to love lost
● Soulful Mavuso gives fans taste of upcoming album
R&B singer Langa Mavuso is giving fans a glimpse into his upcoming debut album with the release of his new single, Love Lost, on digital music platforms today.
The 26-year-old Sunday Blues singer has also let fans in on his taste in other people’s music by compiling and sharing a 34-track playlist on Deezer.
Mavuso was named the first South African Deezer NEXT priority act earlier in 2020, joining Iraqi-Canadian rapper and singer Ali Gatie, Wilhelmine (Germany), Yseult (France), Lous and the Yakuza (DRC), Tiee (Brazil) and others.
The annual programme provides emerging artists such as Mavuso with 12 months of dedicated support from Deezer’s artist marketing, editorial and social teams.
While fans wait for Mavuso’s self-titled debut album to drop later in 2020, they have the opportunity to learn more about his personal musical journey with his new “Inspirations” playlist on Deezer.
The special playlist features Mavuso’s favourite, most inspirational, artists.
We sat down with Mavuso (virtually, that is) to learn more about the man behind the music in this Q&A:
When did you first know you wanted to be a musician? While playing Pop Stars as a child I discovered I could sing. I wanted to be just like the singers I saw on TV. I practised every day and really hoped that one day I would be doing this in my life.
The artist/artists who had the biggest influence on you growing up?
Luther Vandross, Ringo Madlingozi and Caiphus Semenya.
What inspires you to make new music?
I love performing, as the stage feels like home, a place of healing for me. I write and create for those moments on stage. I’m inspired to create the most authentic and magical experiences. I write with honesty and like to bare my soul when I perform live.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing? I’d be writing in some form.
I was a model UN debater in high school and those debates were my favourite extramurals, so probably writing public policy or working as a diplomat. I’d like a job where I could engage with people and write — similar to what I do now.
Who has had the biggest impact on your music career and why?
My first love in high school. We met in music class and fell in love by the piano. We sang to each other.
We shared many brilliant albums with each other and all of that music and those experiences have had the biggest impact on my career.
All my music so far is about that time in my life.
Do you have a specific go-to artist/album for any mood or time?
Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue album or The Complete In A
Silent Way Sessions. The music is emotional and beautiful and I’m inspired by feeling a lot in my work. Everything I create is the pursuit to capture some feeling.
Which artists would you like to collaborate with?
Yebba, Thirdstory, Sam Smith, Rowlene, James Blake, Sjava and Billie Eilish.
If you could go back in time, which artist would you want to see perform?
Brenda Fassie, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston.
You are releasing your new single ‘Love Lost’. Can you tell us a bit about it?
On May 29, we release Love Lost, the first single of my debut self-titled album, LANGA. The song tells a story about love after death.
The setting is a moment of reflection under the stars accompanied by my soulful organ and drum heartbeat. I explore the memories, yearning and accepting the new normal. It really looks into the sweetness and memories of that love.
Loss in love is a universal theme and here we hear it so wistfully captured. It is a beautiful dedication to my first love, who died in my final year of high school.
How would you describe your sound?
Urban soul.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists trying to make it in the industry?
Find your voice, sharpen your craft and create the most irresistible work. Hard work goes a long way.
Learn more about Mavuso through his “Inspirations” playlist on www.deezer.com