Afrofunk star aims to bring some cheer to Soul Clap
AFROFUNK musician MXO visited East London yesterday for one-night-only to grace the Soul Clap Session in Mdantsane, where he planned to give a performance to remember.
MXO shot to fame with hit tracks Sista Kunjani and Zand’yibone on his debut album Peace Of Mind.
He has two albums under his belt, including MX-Funk which was released in 2007.
His love for music started in school, and he believes it is a calling – something he had to do.
He started a crew called Black Power and together they entered Shell Road To Fame.
He moved to Johannesburg in 2001 and formed a duo with Sliq Angel of Amantongomane fame, they were called Roots 2000.
In 2003 he began signed to Sony.
“I never wanted to be signed. When I was offered a deal, I decided let’s have a business deal from the get go, I want to own my masters.
“That’s why now I’ve been blessed because of the decision I took, of not being desperate, and I own my masters now,” he said.
MXO is no longer with Sony, they cancelled the relationship on good terms when they asked him to go a different direction and sign a new deal.
He was also on Survivor in 2011, then took sabbatical leave to raise his four-yearold son, Litha.
“I didn’t want to be that father, the one who disappeared while going to buy milk.
“Basically that guy [Litha] is my boss, he keeps me alive, he gave me another reason to live. It’s been a beautiful transition, from a boy to a man,” he said.
MXO also added that he has also been busy with other ventures.
“But music is still my solace, I can’t let go of music.”
His new single Zinathi third anticipated album
Local poet and founder of the Soul Clap
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and comes out of a yet to be released. Sessions, Thandeka Vabaza, aka Nkqo, and MXO go way back.
It was MXO who introduced Nkqo to the stage.
“I like the artistic side of him. So when he invited me for Soul Claps I was like ‘wow’, even if I had something that I was doing, I was going to drop it for Nkqo.
“I love what he’s doing you know, mobilising the youth via arts, I’m pro that, I support that,” MXO said.
Today together with Nkqo they are going to the Grahamstown Arts Festival for one-night-only on the Soul Clap platform before MXO heads back to Johannesburg.
He said they were also discussing a possible Eastern Cape tour.
Nkqo recalled that the first time he went on stage was at an MXO show. They had met a day before at Ekhaya Jazz Place, a pub in Port Elizabeth in 2002.
He approached MXO, not knowing who he was, because he liked his vibe. That night they jammed and Nkqo shared a poem for the first time.
“They had a show at The Barn at the Opera House so I went with them.
“When he was going for a break, he announced that there was a poet in the house, and called me to the stage. I gathered the courage, went up and performed.
“And everyone, from that night, called me a poet, and I had to keep up, I’m still keeping up,” Nkqo said.
MXO has also worked on tracks with Trompies and is busy working on one with iFani.
“We want to bring the Eastern Cape back to where it belongs, on the maps,” said the Port Elizabeth-born artist.
He said this required support from local municipalities.
MXO was travelling with his nephew, Phila Madlingozi, who is also a musician. Many would know MXO also for his role as Zolile on Intersexions .
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