Man Oh Man – Langa Mavuso
Urban soul crooner LANGA MAVUSO, 25, on his upcoming debut album, dealing with disappointment, and chasing his colossal dreams
My biggest accomplishment is making my mom proud.
She used to worry about my passion for the entertainment industry, and whether it offered any stable career prospects. Just knowing that she doesn’t have to worry about me anymore puts me at ease. It’s so reassuring when she posts WhatsApp stories about me, or calls me to let me know how proud she is. My single, Sunday Blues, allowed me to move out of home and buy my first car. I’d love to pay off my mother’s bond, buy her a bigger house and even put my little brother through varsity.
What I love about growing up in Joburg is that the possibilities are endless.
You can literally be anything you want to be. There’s a certain energy about the city that I enjoy because everyone wants to succeed. You can grow up in a township like Alexandra, and own a mansion in Bryanston 10 years later.
The first song I learnt on the piano was
Mary Had A Little Lamb. I started playing when I was 15, but it was mainly for school because I had to take a second instrument. I don’t like playing the piano, though, so I no longer do. I don’t like being average – I want to be great at everything I do. To be a great piano player, I’d need to spend at least six hours a day to perfect my craft. I don’t have that time, unfortunately.
My all-time favourite lyrics are from a Matt Corby track titled
Letters. My favourite lines go, ‘Love is like a letter wrote, and life is like an envelope. You can choose who you give it to, but you can’t choose who will give it to you.’
Through my upcoming debut album, I’m hoping to get people to understand my sound
— I want to expand people’s tastes. No one warns you how hard it is to create an album. This is my first body of work and a lot of time went into it. I’d just gone through a breakup and went through all the emotions, which I penned down. The album is separated into three parts, but they’re all connected. The first section is sombre because I’m basically marinating in the heartbreak. The second part, which is upbeat, is about searching for love in the wrong places. The final part is realising that I still have love – I’m falling in love with myself.
When I write music, I first get the melody from God and the words from my heart.
I usually play around with words after I’ve locked down the perfect melody. And I usually know what story I’m trying to tell, depending on my mood. I don’t even name the tracks until they’re submitted for selection. I want the song to first have a life of its own, and allow it to give itself a name.
My dream duet partner is Frank Ocean.
He’s a great writer – collaborating with him would stretch my capacity. Also, working with Frank Ocean’s producer Om’Mas Keith would be a dream. He has a special knack for creating the very essence of urban soul music.
I’d describe my fashion sense and style as classic, but street.
It’s muted, simple and plain. I could rock a plain white T-Shirt and ripped jeans, or go for a velvet suit. Even though my style is simple, there’s always an eccentric element to it.
I used to be on anti-depressants.
But now I know what the root cause of my depression is. I don’t have the inner mechanism to deal with loss, rejection and pain, and that usually weighs down my soul.
The most exciting thing in my life right now is releasing new music.
I’ve been working on new stuff for the past year and a half. I know people have been anticipating my album for a very long time. Some of the release delays were from the label’s side.
Getting signed, then realising that being associated with a big label doesn’t mean that things are going to be easier, was a bitter pill to swallow.
It was disappointing because I had created a perception based on what I thought was a great team for me. I still had to fight to get exposure, and had to build my own networks and relationships in order to get my brand out there. I now understand that they didn’t understand my vision the way I do – and they didn’t believe in me the way I do. This is why I’m more than ready to be an independent musician.
My best remedy for disappointment is allowing it to make me work harder
— to mostly prove that I’m worthy and way better than what people perceive me to be. When I get knocked down, I use that as fuel to do better.
The best advice I ever received was that it’s important to make sure your cup is full before filling up others’.
This advice drove home the message that it’s important to work towards a place of wholeness, because so many times, we spread ourselves too thin.
My advice to other upcoming musicians is for them to craft their own sound.
Create as much as you can, and once you’ve done that, be consistent and persistent. Know that no one, but you, has the power to change your life. Bang on doors and if there isn’t one, create it yourself.