Malumz On Decks are planning to hit the big time
IN TEMBISA, the term malum (uncle) is used affectionately among the guys to greet each other.
For the DJ pair Mandla Mtshali and Oscar Nyathi, the name Malumz On Decks came easily.
When they started out and while driving, they used to ask each other what they could call themselves, and Oscar came up with the name.
The two have been working together for five years, with Mtshali as the DJ and Nyathi booking the gigs.
Their music is Afro house, with a mixture of deep soul.
“We started our record label – Own It – that we are signed under and we also signed up a few artists, but they didn’t stay long.
“We were still learning the business and the artists weren’t patient with us.
“But once we understood what was required, we released our solo project, and we saw that we liked the same things.
“You listen to our beats, we like the same style, so we fused it and reworked it and that’s how it became Malumz On Decks.”
Putting the album together was easy for the music lovers.
It was while Mtshali was DJing and released his track Inkomo Zakhe and Nyathi also had his own three songs out that they decided to fuse the music and compiled their album
“We have six music videos out on TV right now, and Monate is doing wonders on many radio stations.” Monate is the track that is pushing their album, The Journey. Mtshali said the album was filled with the Afro beats South Africans had come to love.
“We brought back that indigenousness, where all the music has vocals and in all the indigenous languages. It’s a 13-track album with remixes and it’s proudly South African.”
The Journey has received great reviews. “It’s our first project and people are already asking how one album has so many hits. Right now it’s all about picking which song to
Indigenous Afro house music is their thing
put out next.”
Mtshali said the December rush and the focus on bigger stables and bigger names fighting for the number one spot would allow them to make even better music.
“We are focused on what we are going to do with our music from January. We know this album will push us for another year.”
Some of the music they have produced includes Buhle Bendalo, Dance Anthem, Ma Afrika and Inkomo Zakhe.
And they have new artists under their label whose albums they will be releasing next year.