Samthing Soweto

Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba (born 21 January 1988), known professionally as Samthing Soweto, is a South African singer and songwriter.[1][2] He gained mainstream attention from his feature on record producer, Sun-El Musician's acclaimed song "Akanamali", released in 2017.

Samthing Soweto
Born
Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba

(1988-01-21) 21 January 1988
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2010-present
LabelsIndependent
Associated acts
Websitewww.samthingsoweto.co.za

Following his departure of the group The Soil, Mdolomba released his debut album, This N That Without Tempo (2010), which fuses a capella and soul. He then departed from his debut album's sound as he introduced fusions of Afro pop, amapiano and R&B for his second album, Isphithiphithi (2019).

Life and career

Early life

Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba was born and raised in Protea North, Soweto, a township of Johannesburg, South Africa.[1] He is the third of four children, who were all raised by his single mother.[1] Mdolomba was moved to his grandmother in Eastern Cape, but was later moved back to Protea North caused by substandard issues.[1] In an interview with The Best T in The City, he said, "She [his mother] thought maybe an upbringing in the EC would benefit me but it didn’t. I lost weight, not that my granny wasn’t looking after me, I cried every day…it was too much for me so she came back after a year".[1]

Mdolomba left school in eighth grade as he had problems of dyslexia . In an interview on Metro FM, he stated, "School was really tough for me.[3] It was a nightmare but I went back nonetheless." At the age of 15, Mdolomba started using Mandrax, and was also involved in crime-related actions in order to escape difficulties he faced at home.[3] He was sent to a youth detention centre for armed robbery where he started making music full-time. This eventually helped him break out of the life of crime and drug addiction.[3]

The Soil

After being released from the youth detention centre and eventually returning back to school, Samthing Soweto began taking interest to a school choir. [4] The choir was led by Buhlebendalo Mda, who was later one of the vocalists of the a capella group The Soil.[4] While attending the choir's performance, Mdolomba wanted to start a group [The Soil], describing it as: "A group that sings songs, songs that we can afford to sing. And I say afford, because everything out there was programmed or played with instruments and we couldn't afford that, so I was like let's use our voices".[4]

After the formation of The Soil, the group met the head of the entertainment company, Native Rhythms, Sipho Sithole who was keen on signing them to his label.[4] After signing and beginning their first project, Mdolomba began learning how to produce music and released his debut solo studio album, This N That Without Tempo, and also started making music with another band, The Fridge which is a nu jazz group.[4] Mdolomba left both parties due to contractual disputes and creative differences.[4]

Influence

Prior to meeting members of The Soil, Mdolomba was arrested for public robbery in Avalon cemetery at Klipriviersoog, Soweto.[5] His sentence was suspended and he was sent to a youth detention center in Krugersdorp, West Rand.[4] Mdolomba was encouraged to sing by his fellow inmates, who sang using a prison style of chanting called Gumba Fire, which includes singing Kwaito songs in a cappella format.[4] This became a major influence in him establishing the group The Soil, in terms of both working in a group, and using bare vocals as a musical instrument.[4] He also stated that the male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo had an influence on him in venturing to acapella.[6]

The Fridge

After leaving The Soil, Mdolomba continued with the nu jazz group, The Fridge. The band which consisted of a drummer, Ade Omotade, bassist Muthusi and Mdolomba as the vocalist, gained success in playing on local shows and festivals, including The Loft at Melville, Gauteng.[7] The group released their debut extended play, Bass Drum & Sam in 2011 through digital media.[8] The Fridge disbanded in 2015 due to two members of the trio relocating; Thusi and Ade.[8]

2010–present: Solo projects and Isphithiphiti

In 2013, Mdolomba appeared on poet Makhafula Vilakazi's South African poetry album, I Am Not Going Back To The Township, credited both as a guest vocalist and producer.[9] Following his debut studio album, This N That Without Tempo, which was independently released on 6 August 2010, Mdolomba released his debut EP Eb'suku, released on 4 January 2014.[10] In support of Eb'suku, Mdolomba headlined the annual internationally acclaimed Joy of Jazz Festival 2014, representing "Sounds Of Democracy".[11] He also performed at the Rocking The Daisies Festival held on 2–5 October 2014 at Cape Town, Western Cape.[12] That same year, he composed and performed the title sequence of the drama series Rhythm City, and also appeared on the soundtrack of the drama film Otelo Burning.[13][14]

In 2015, Mdolomba appeared on the Coca-Cola-sponsored live-music television series Coke Studio Africa, alongside artist Spoek Mathambo and bassist Shane Cooper.[15] In May 2017, Mdolomba made his superior breakthrough with his feature on producer Sun-El Musicians' acclaimed song, "Akanamali".[16] The song received South African Music Awards for Best Collaboration, SAMPRA highest airplay, and SAMRO highest airplay at the 24th South African Music Awards.[17]

Isphitiphithi, Mdolomba's second album was released on 20 September 2019.[18] The album broke the record of the highest number of users "pre-adding" the album on the streaming service, Apple Music South Africa, before the release of the album. The record was previously held by singer Billie Eilish.[19][20] He said, "I am surprised and excited, I didn't know there was another record to be broken, which is a great feat for me. I thank all my fans for being so supportive and loyal."[21] He released four singles for the album, including "Akulaleki" featuring BET Award winner Sha Sha which peaked number-one on the local Apple Music chart.[22]

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected details, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Certifications
This N That Without Tempo
Isphithiphithi
gollark: 7421, I think?
gollark: I will when it comes back up.
gollark: I'm kind of more lamenting about the fact that they cheated a bunch of turtles then used them ridiculously insecurely.
gollark: Look, you're welcome to come on and look, I drove a few out of the claim.
gollark: Don't know.

References
  1. "7 things you didn't know about Samthing Soweto". SowetanLIVE.
  2. "Samthing Soweto". Incwajana.
  3. "Samthing Soweto details his struggles with reading and writing in school". TimesLIVE.
  4. "SAMTHING DISHES OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SOIL FOR HIS FANS". Tha Bravado.
  5. "Samthing Soweto says his community has forgiven him for his criminal past". TimesLIVE.
  6. "Samthing Soweto talks about Isphithiphithi, childhood & music". Kaya FM.
  7. Sbabe Khoza (2014-05-02), Samthing Soweto, retrieved 2016-04-27
  8. "The Fridge | Design Indaba". Design Indaba. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  9. "Sharp turns on an angry road". Mail & Guardian.
  10. "Eb'suku". Samthing Soweto.
  11. "In Pictures: The Joy of Jazz". eNCA.
  12. "Rocking the Daisies full line-up". Bizcommunity.com.
  13. "Rhythm City's fresh new title sequence". e.tv.
  14. "Otelo Burning Mixtape". Akhona Ndungane.
  15. "Folk meets House for a Culoe De Song on Coke Studio". Channel24.
  16. "Listen Free to Sun-El Musician - Akanamali (feat. Samthing Soweto) Radio". iHeartRadio.
  17. "Sun-El Musician, Joyous Celebration big winners at first night of Samas". SowetanLIVE.
  18. "Listen to Samthing Soweto's Album 'Isiphithiphithi'". OkayAfrica.
  19. "Samthing Soweto's Isphithiphithi Makes Apple Music History!". People Magazine.
  20. "Local artist Samthing Soweto on what it's like to be top of Apple Music". East Coast Radio.
  21. "'I'm surprised and excited!'". Daily Sun.
  22. "Samthing Soweto Thought He Was Too Old for Chart Success. He Was Wrong". Rolling Stone.
  23. "Isphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto". Apple. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
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