This week on the Quadrant, we have featured an artist who is equal parts beautiful and talented. She is a Rhodes student currently who is poised to make waves in the very near future. Ladies and gents, it is our absolute pleasure to introduce the time travelling, visual and singer song writer Gugu Mkhize.
When did you first start singing?
Well, my earliest memories of me singing was when I was in preschool and was a part of a remixed version of the nativity play of Jesus’ birth; one year I was a frog, the other year I was an angel. I’m sure I began singing at an even younger age, that memory, however, may be a part of some hidden aspect of my childhood memories.
What did your family do to encourage you?
They enjoyed my music, they danced to it, they spoke words of encouragement and have assisted me in financing this project, as well; I am very grateful for that.
Who else in your family sings?
My mother(alto) and my little sister(alto, as well);we, sometimes, form choirs in the living room and just sing along to which ever song we fancy. My grandma used to sing as well.
Who are your musical inspirations?
They are numerous, too numerous to mention all of them, but I’ll try : God (most of my songs come to me in my sleep- sometimes through dreams), Janelle Monae, Solange, Caiphus Semenya, Angelique Kidjo, Hillsongs(I love how sincere, subtly intricate, emotionally charged, simply beautiful and long their songs are; really tells a story in just one song), Erykah Badu, Esperanza Spalding, I really like Quadron and their electro-soul, The Temper Trap, Simphiwe Dana, Oliver Mtukudzi, Ringo, Petie Noir and the list goes on…Did I mention Janelle Monae?
What kind of music do you listen to today?
I listen to different kinds of music. I listen to a lot of African music: Bossa Nova, Samba, Alternative, Post Rock…I sometimes do not understand labels (genre-wise) when it comes to music ‘cause, when it comes to creative ventures, I tend to take influences from everywhere. If Janelle Monae were a genre, I’d say Janelle Monae then because she incorporates many, many genres in her music; I have over-killed listening to Solange’s “True” EP, Quadron’s “Avalanche” album and Janelle Monae’s recent release “The Electric Lady” album, though.
What embarrassing songs might I find on your MP3 player?
I don’t think that there’s anything embarrassing on my MP3 player( I don’t get embarrassed easily, instead of shying away, I’d laugh or something), however I do think that people might find me listening to Caiphus Semenya’s “Angelina” quite cheesy and very ‘Old school’, I also do some afro-throwing and booty hopping to some Beyonce songs….in my room, though.
Where would you most like to perform?
I would love to perform at Glastonbury Festival in England and SXSW in America.
Who would you most like to open for?
Solange, Janelle Monae, Erykah Badu, Caiphus Semenya, and/ or Angelique Kidjo.
If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?
I, absolutely, do not know but I think that I’d probably be in space.
Do you play any instruments?
I play the air guitar and the Vocals haha. I’m learning to play the guitar.
If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be?
I dabble in different genres of music all the time, I believe that my song “Sounds The Call(!ke e:/ xarra //ke)” is a testament of that; my EP has 5 song and each song is different in its own right, plus each song is an incorporation of different genres. I already dabble in different genres; the abovementioned song includes these genres (amongst many): dancehall, Latin, jazz, afro-jazz. Besides the mentioned genres, some sounds are just music that I find very difficult to categorise and wish not to.
What genre of music can't you stand to listen to?
I can’t be genre-specific because I feel that that would be me generalising and throwing shade on whole genres, when there are great and not-so-good songs in each and every genre; what I can say is that I really dislike songs that don’t change, whereby there’s no progression and growth as the song goes on- I find that extremely boring. What I wanted to do with each of my songs was to create a story that has a beginning, plot and an end in and of itself; indeed, when the songs are played together, they do tell a story(this needn’t be the lyrics only), but I wanted the individuals songs, themselves, to tell their own stories. So, I can tell you that I’m really into classical music because of that.
What hidden talents do you have?
Well, I do not know if you noticed or realised this or not, but I’m also a Visual Artist; all the album art that you see and will see was created by me. If that wasn’t so hidden, another could be that I can travel to realms where songs are handed out; however, I have to be summoned first. Basically, I time travel.
Do you enjoy writing music and/or lyrics?
Definitely, I do that is always the fun and easy part, the difficult part comes when those concepts and visions that flourished in the heart and mind have to brought into this realm and made tangible to (not only myself) other people. The song writing and composing come from a very inspired, spontaneous, emotional and spiritual places in me and once they come out, they leave me feeling amazing(so, I always enjoy those beginning stages). So, the composing and song writing is never entirely planned whereby I sit and say ‘today I’ll write a song however, once that initial inspired, spontaneous moment comes along, developing and growing the song has to be planned and is very intentional.
Here’s a link to the song:
Support local artists.
Interview done by: Owethu Makhathini
Photographer: Danielle Durandt
