Introducing: LUNGĒLWA

In the vibrant and ever-evolving landscape of South Africa’s alternative music scene, one name is steadily rising to the forefront: LUNGĒLWA. Hailing from the coastal city of Durban, this enigmatic artist brings a fresh and distinctive voice to the industry. With influences ranging from the legendary Prince to contemporary figures like Moses Sumney, LUNGĒLWA embodies the spirit of androgynous expression, blending genres effortlessly to create a sound that is uniquely their own.

As LUNGĒLWA prepares to unveil their debut project on the 14^th of April, anticipation is mounting among fans eager to immerse themselves in a sonic journey that promises to challenge conventions and defy expectations. With five years of musical exploration under their belt, LUNGĒLWA has honed their craft, carving out a niche in the alternative scene with a sound that fuses elements of R&B, jazz, lofi, folk and native African sounds. But Lungelwa’s creative prowess extends beyond the realm of music, their podcast, ‘takeaseatradio’, serves as a platform for candid conversations and thought-provoking discourse, offering listeners a glimpse into the artist’s multifaceted identity and worldview. In our exclusive interview, we delve deep into LUNGĒLWA’s musical journey, exploring their inspirations, their experiences navigating the industry as an androgynous artist, and the delicate balance between their academic pursuits and artistic endeavours.

The conversation unfolded as documented below:

Photo: nizi.jpg

You have a platform called ‘takeaseatradio’. Can you paint a brief background picture for someone who may not be familiar with your platform.

With takeaseatradio I wanted to create a broader space for creatives to speak about what they go through creatively. takeaseatradio is a community of people, it's not just me. I often times collaborate with producers, different types of creatives in different spaces to ensure everybody is heard.

How has the integration of podcasting into your musical journey influenced the way you connect with your audience?

It has helped me be honest enough to give people the full scope of the truth; what goes on behind the scenes, what goes on in my mind, what struggles I have as a creative when I create, and just wanting everyone to have a say. I also wanted to be Lungelwa outside of LUNGĒLWA. I wanted to be a creative and curator because that is what I am at heart besides music. I just wanted to be free speaking about my creative endeavours outside music, like fashion, photography, the curation of mixes and how much respect I have for producers and tastemakers in our industry. 

And how do you navigate the balance between expressing your personal passions and addressing broader issues within the music industry?

I often relate to them. A lot of the times I manage to merge and relate them because they are intrinsically connected already. I am always trying to look at the broader perspective even when it comes to my personal problems and experiences because we often times forget that we move as a collective. I am impacted by other people's actions, I am impacted by my own actions and what I do creatively as well. 

I balance it out by relating it to each other. And how do I navigate that? I often ask myself questions to reflect on the type of artist I am, where I'm trying to go — and I merge it together. The issues in the industry, I voice it out because I do not want anyone else experiencing the things that I have before. I want it to be a safe space for all creatives and in me addressing the issues that we may have I am really just calling out what I see. And I feel like every artist with a platform needs to do that.

Known as a forum of conversation and therapy, how does your podcast address the intersection of mental health and creativity within the music industry, and what impact do you hope to have on your listeners?

I address mental health through the ideas I have in my head. Often times I deal with a lot of anxiety, so I will address things like overthinking your path, overthinking your creative endeavours, procrastinating, and self-doubt. I address those topics because I go through them and I want it to be highlighted so people know at times that I cannot give you the best but I will try. Often times, creatives use their creativity to run away from their mental issues or they use it to express what happens deep inside. The impact I hope to make on the listeners, is to help them understand the industry – to help them feel welcome in this space no matter how big or small they think they are. I love playing on the intersection and contrast of being a musician yet also speaking out about certain things because I don’t just want to be labelled as a singer/songwriter, I want to be everything that I want to be. I am a producer, singer, songwriter, dancer, curator, and founder of takeaseatradio. I hope it motivates everybody to not be boxed within one identity that they have already given out to the world.

How does your androgynous identity inform your artistic expression and challenge conventional perceptions of femininity within the music industry, while also incorporating feminine elements into your art?

My androgynous and queer identity helps me move away from the judgement and discrimination of others. It informs my artistic expression by giving way to a vast amount of ideas coming from all sexual orientations and all gender identities. My art reflects who I am through contrast of masculine and feminine energy because we all have both. I often use she/her pronouns when referring to a love interest because I want the representation of queer people in music especially in South Africa because we need representation. It is important for someone to see themselves in me. The feminine elements are inherently there since I do identify as a women...these elements are using passionate and sensual words when referring to a love interest as well as playing around with clothing and fashion in my everyday life.

Who are your musical inspirations that identify as androgynous?

With my androgynous ideologies and identity, I get inspiration from artists such as Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Troy Sivan, Jozzy, Destin Conrad, Thandonje, Langa Mavuso, Willow, Kehlani, Moses Sumney and many more because they’ve opened doors for me to be comfortable with my androgynous identity and they all have a beautiful balance of both masculine and feminine energy and demeanour in their art and music.

As you navigate the demands of student life and your creative passions, how do you prioritise your commitments and responsibilities between your studies, music, and other artistic pursuits?

Being a student takes away a lot from your creative time. You often are thinking in a very structural manner; with creativity you have a broader perspective of life in general. As a student I often pride myself in time management and writing down the things that I would have to do. Same way that I would prioritise an assignment is the same way that I would prioritise a performance, an interview, or anything that is linked to my creative endeavours. To me education is important because no one can take away the accolades of education I have; it would have been a thing of I built it myself – same as music though. I manage by keeping my head up in preparation, I prepare beforehand everything I do.     

How do you manage to stay motivated and resilient in the face of challenges and setback?

I often face the setbacks by surrounding myself with a good support system such as friends and family because these people believe in my dreams as much as I do. It took a few longer to believe because music is not the ideal career but I guess showing them the results of my music helped me realise that I can make it work at the end of the day whether it is school or music.

As LUNGĒLWA prepares to make their mark on the music scene with the imminent release of their first project, their journey serves as a testament to the power of authenticity and self-expression. With influences as diverse as their own identity, LUNGĒLWA embodies a new wave of artists pushing boundaries and challenging norms. As they continue to navigate the intersection of artistry and identity, LUNGĒLWA’s presence in both the music industry and podcasting sphere promises to inspire and provoke thought in equal measure. In a world hungry for authenticity and diversity, LUNGĒLWA stands poised to make an indelible impact, leaving an imprint that transcends genre and resonates with audiences far and wide.

Written by Kamohelo More