If you listen with your ear on the ground you might

If you listen with your ear
on the ground you might
hear the sound
the group
meet the soil: a 4-member acapella singing group whose music can best be described as ‘Kasi
Soul’. The Soil strives to fuse their voices to deliver melodic and harmonious messages that
are aimed at uplifting and healing souls all around the world.
The first member of the group exists in a spiritual form as The Creator of all. The other
three members of the group take a physical form: Buhlebendalo Mda, Luphindo Ngxanga, and
Ntsika Fana Ngxanga, who are occasionally also supported by two backing vocalists, Asanda
and Tshwarelo.
The Soil claims they are simply channels of the songs that they believe come to them from a
sacred place where they just serve as mediums that help carry the message through.
the album & the music The Journey
This self-titled album by The Soil is surely going to take you back to the time when the
Creator sculpted the skies and the land, covering it with the soil. The group’s music bears
testimony to the fact that God created man using the very soil and thousands of years later
He gave a voice to The Soil. It is through this belief that The Soil invites you to listen with
your ear on the ground as you might hear the sound.
Defined as ‘Kasi Soul’ - the group’s music features in a contemporary township style an
eclectic mix of musical genres such as jazz, hip-hop, Afro-pop, and Afro-soul. The group’s
musical style is evident in its rhythmic vocal bass line, with constant beat boxing - a distinct
feature in the music - whilst the remaining voices contribute to the chordal and polyphonic
accompaniment. Equal and up to the challenge, each of the group members take turns in solo
vocal performance to display their most beautiful rendition of the melodic verses embedded
in each song.
The album is a reflection of the group’s aspiration for a world full of joy, hope, faith,
goodwill and love - a message carried out with each performance and each song.
This album is a culmination of years of dedication, hard work and a passion for the art.
Having paid their dues as a performing group in and around the country, The Soil is as
comfortable at big music festivals and concerts as it is on theater stages. In the past 7
years The Soil has graced stages of the most renowned events such as the Standard Bank
Joy of Jazz, Grahamstown Arts Festival, Jazz by the River, as well as theater stages of the
Nelson Mandela Theater as well as the Catalyst Theatre in Cape Town.
It is through this journey that The Soil strives to be a household name and a global brand
imprinted in the hearts and minds of those who aspire for a better world.
the Members
Buhlebendalo Mda aka Buhle: This Soweto-born and only female member of the group
has always loved music and the attention that comes with it. For Buhle, The Soil completes
her life puzzle: it’s her second home. Her life long dream has always been to work with
the likes of the Late and Great Gogo Mirriam Makeba, Mama Busi Mhlongo. Thandiswa Mazwai,
Simphiwe Dana, Ringo Madlingozi, and Gloria Bosman, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, just to name a few.
Buhle describes herself or her music as soulful or “Jazzy fizzle”, which is considered to be a
mixture of all sorts of genres from which she has created her own soulful or “Jazzy fizzle”.
To Buhle all genres do it for her, as they tend to match her every mood.
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Ntsika Fana Ngxanga aka Da FanArtistc:
Also dreamt of being on stage as early as
primary schooling years and used school desks as drums and turned every song into dance
music, and transforming the classical jazz songs that he grew up being exposed to into his
own musical world. Ntsika got introduced to clap and tap music, “apostolic gospel music”,
and learnt to sing from the heart, and to add emotion to the very voice one was blessed
with, and learnt how to connect with music in its totality as well as the art of backing.
The defining moment for Ntsika was when he started dreaming and receiving songs in his
sleep which he coins “something very heavenly and humbling”, which he embraced as a Gift and
God’s medium through which he was to pass messages of love, hope, courage, faith, joy, peace
and happiness amongst many.
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Luphindo Ngxanga aka Master P: considers himself the friendliest and warmest member
of the group. Contrary to his masculine beatbox prowess with which he meticulously kicks
the bass drum and snare, accompanied by his harmonic basslines, Luphindo is a humanitarian
in the group and loves to see the members happy all the time. Luphindo uses his fine arts
academic training to think differently and seeing things in perspective which he then applies
in the construction of ideas in the songs The Soil finally puts together. Luphindo is the
‘a rtist for shizy’.
This is their story!
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Booking and Management Enquiries: Native Rhythms Productions +27 (11) 325 2632 or e-mail [email protected]
“I was introduced to clap and tap music,
“apostolic gospel music”, by my older brother
Luphindo Ngxanga. I loved this kind of music
because it taught me how to sing from the
heart, to add emotion to the very voice one
was blessed with, and how to connect with
music in its totality.”
Ntsika Fana Ngxanga
I describe my sound as soulful or “Jazzy fizzle”
cause my style is so diverse and I mix all sorts
of genres to create and match my every mood.
The Soil completes my life puzzle. It’s my second
home. VIVA KASI SOUL VIVA!
Buhlebendalo Mda
“My role in the group is very simply, humanity
- I love to see people happy all the time.
When it comes to singing I’m the one who
plays bass and most of the time I do beatbox
which has taken me years to perfect. With
beatbox I do the harmony, kick, and snare all
at the same time. “
Luphindo Ngxanga
Intro
Baninzi
abekho abanye /
Iinkomo
Composed by: Portia Monama
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Sthandwa sami ngicela sibambisane sihlalisane /
Ngumvulo ulwesibini nolwesithathu / Hayi alukho usuku
olufana nolasuku / Mde unomkhitha wayevel’eMtata /
Lomfana ndamphiwa Nguye uSomandla / Ethwel’ipanama
yakhe yama krwala emnyama / Ndaziva ukuthi hayi
lomfana uyandi charmer / Ndaxelela umama / uMama
waxelela utata / And soon sizaw’tshata nalo mfana obendi
charmer / Akhange ndilinde mandi khawuleze ndizazise/
Igama nguBuhle wathi elakhe umfana wuSihle / Ya
blender le way / Uyazivela nawe iya rhymer le way / Sa
chiller elwandle / Kodwa bendigoduka that day /
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Joy (We Are Family)
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
First verse and you know it does not get any worse / I got
my friends and my pals singing this to nurse / We wish our
voices bring you peace on this earth / Cause in the name
of Jesus Christ we were blessed at birth / With the gift of
singing your sorrows away / We will sing until we drive your
sorrows away / Please don’t cry the winds of change are
blowing our way / And I know I don’t know who you are but I
know we are family /
You’re probably sitting there on your own / You’re probably
listening to this song /
It’s pumping all over your radio / And suddenly you feel a lot
of joy / You singing along / The Soil comes in you don’t care
you just carry on /
I’ve got joy in my heart / And you know it’s the kind of
feeling / Followed by a sense of healing / I’ve got joy in my
heart / I’ve got love in my heart / I’ve got joy in my heart /
U Thixo waku dala / Wena wandi zala / NgoBuhlebendalo
wandithiya / ndiyabulela ma’Mpinga / Wen’usis’thandwa
sam / Akekho endimthandayo njengawe / Mama wam
ndiyabulela / ma’Mpinga usis’thandwa sam / I’m saying
this because we are family /
Ndivuke namhla ekuseni / Ilanga libetha ebusweni
/ Ndahamba ndaya ecaweni / Ndathandaza uMesiya
ndabulela uSandigcinile.
“We consider you, our family”. - The Soil
Baninzi abafuna lonk’uthando lwentliziyo yam / Ndikunika
lonk’uthando lwentliziyo yam / Mama, mama / Ndibambe
kanje ndibambe kaso.
“Baninzi is a song that tells a story about the
unconditional love we have for our mothers and how
everyone wants a piece of that love.” - The Soil
Sunday
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Soil sister with beautiful black eyes / Ntwana yam she kills
me every time when she smiles / Educated black sister with a
conscious mind / Even though I say so myself she’s my type /
Ethwel’iqhiya pretty much like umam’uS’biya / Using nothing
but u buhle bakhe ebendibiza / Samza ngashiva lomntwana
uyang’bandisa / Profound sister ben’geke ngiye daar
ngindiza / Mara akusizi ukulinda ngasukuma ngayozazisa /
Igama uNtsika kanti elakhe mfana uSiza /
Ya blender daideng uyayizwa iyahamba daideng / Sa chiller e
cafe kanti ungwana uhamba that day /
Would it make you smile seeing her again / Seems like she’s
gone and she’ll never return / You act like this girl’s the only
reason you win /
Would it make you smile / Making her your bride she’s gone
now that’s why you singing this song / You look so sad man
she left you bad /
On that day it was a Sunday / U buhle bakhe took my
breath away / Ingxaki kukuthi ebehamba that day / But I
hope to see her someday / Please believe me when I say
/ In this sour life you’re my honey / you’re the only one
Molo sthandwa sam kunjani lovey wam / ndikunika uthando
lwam luthathe please ungasabi / Njalo ndikucinga njalo /
Sthandwa sam sentliziyo yam ndikunika uthando / Although
bathi ng’bloma ekasi lama psycho / Mara ubani othe alukho
uthando eSoweto / Ngubani lo ndithetha ngaye igama
nguNoluthando / uMama wabantwana bam ozakundinika
usapho / Lomntwana lo uvela pha kwaMakhumalo and yena
ingathi unohambo.
“This is a very short, beautiful story about a guy seeing
this incredible girl and instantly falls in love with her on a
Sunday afternoon. He finally gets a chance to talk and get
to know her better but their conversation gets cut short
simply because the girl had to leave. All they are left with
are memories of that brief conversation and a wish to see
each other again”. - The Soil
Nazi iinkomo ebuhlanti / Kuvume nabaphantsi / Besithi
eyi sani / Kutheni ungekamthathi / Ndathi yonk’int’irighti
/ Yena ungowami / Kodwa kukhona ingxaki / utata’khe
akandifuni /
ndisahleli phantsi komthi / Yadlula yona leyontokazi /
Ndiyaqonda ibiyokha amanzi / Phaya ezantsi e mlanjeni
/ Ndaphakama mna ndayilandela / Njengo clever wase
Rhawutini ndasondela / Molo sana ndicela ukuhamba nawe
/ Elothutyana ndivumele ndithethe nawe / Ndiyi Ntsika
yekhaya ikhaya lakwa Ngxanga / Ndiyi nkosi lonto ikwenza
inkosazana yam / Bamb’isandla sam sthandwa sam /
Uzakuba ngumama wabantwana bam / Ndiyazibuza umhle
kangaka / Ukhetha mna amadoda engaka / Ndizakubiza
utata wam nawe ubize utata wakho / Bahlale phantsi
bobabini babonisane/
Samza ndiyoyika ndoyika umama no tata / Umama uzakundi
krwitsha utata uzakundibetha athi ndiyajola / Ntsika
ndiyoyika umama uzakundibetha/
Hayi andikaze mna ndiyibone / intombazane entle nje ngawe /
Please ntombazane uzundimamele / Nditheth’inyani sthandwa
undi charmile / Ebusuku sthandwa sam mna ndibonisiwe
/ Mna nawe baby sesitshatile / Please ntombazane
uzundimamele / Nditheth’inyani sthandwa ndikuthandile.
“Iinkomo is a song that takes us back to our roots
where a guy needs to pay Lobola in the form of
cows. A guy loves a girl so much that he wants to
marry her. But the girls’ father does not want the
guy anywhere near his daughter and all the while
he was using the cow issue as an excuse”. - The Soil
Girl I Love (I’m Lonely)
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Girl I love is gone and I’m all alone and I’m feeling by myself
now / And even though I’m a little wack now but it’s alright
but I’m lonely / I found that some things in life are a little hard
/ I found that sometimes in my life I’m lonely /
Don’t you leave me baby please / I will miss you everyday /
And already it hurts so bad / Oh would you please come back
home / If only you could see / How much I really love you
sthandwa sam / I promise you, you would never ever leave me.
“Bhomba is a playful song which we grew up singing
with the elders. Even up until today they refuse to
tell us what it really means, or what it’s about. But
we think it’s about a jackal proposing love to a
rabbit. And the rabbit refuses telling the jackal that
it’s just a tiny and innocent animal”. - The Soil
Impossible
They Fell
Bhomba
Lonely Nights
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing
Oh Lord it was impossible / But now I know it’s possible / So
I wrote you this song / To prove my love to me / That we are
meant to be /
I’ve been watching girl from a distance, from a distance /
And I’ve been wondering girl, if I could have your number /
But with my stuttering ggg..irl / I’m afraid I might blow my
chances / So I chill and relax, relax and chill /
Sitya amacala enkomo zabantu / Ngoba ndimncinci
ndipunki ndingaka / Umubi ufana nengulube eb’sweni /
Wahlahl‘amehlo, ngath’isele selitshayiswe imoto
Thinking of you and what I wanna do with you / I don’t know
what to do I’m going crazy baby without you / Lonely nights
I can’t describe the feeling of sleeping by myself / Would you
be my honey baby....? / Without you in my life I’d go crazy /
Ngaphandle kwakho uyazi soze ndiphile.
First of all I’d like to say I really really love you girl / And
second of all I’d like to say I’m really really sorry / ‘Cause I
was all in your face / Never thought that I was invading your
space / So I’m sorry / But I have to tell you this / You are the
one that made do this / Tears just fall and my heart is very
sore / So would you do me one favour / Just say yes to me /
I know it’s hard but it’s possible.
I don’t know about love at first sight but how do I explain
what happened that night / We stood at a corner that had no
street lights / Her angelic eyes where so bright / Next thing
we were talking and laughing / Tightly holding and hugging,
lip-locking and touching / Later in the week we were
pushing and shoving / Is it flirting or loving, let me tell you
something, I think we fell in love / They fell in love too fast…
Hayi Jakalashi uthand’into zabantu / Hayi jakalashi
khawuyek’into zabantu.
Sedilaka
Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda /
S. L. Mdolomba
Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active
Music Publishing
Sedilaka mponisetse tsela ke tsamae / Holififi hape ho se baka
ntsamaise / Ha Oleteng ha ke batle tsebo ya ntho tsohle.
“Sedilaka is one of the hymns sung by most congregations
in South Africa. We are asking the Lord for guidance and to
show us the light everywhere we go”. - The Soil
To all the beautiful souls that
we’ve met throughout the
years, people that have helped
us get closer to our dream
we thank you!
T
he Soil would like to thank God Almighty the
Creator of heaven and earth. Thank you for
choosing us as mediums of this wonderful music
which You have Blessed us with.
Thank you to the Ngxanga and Dubazana families for their
love and support – and to our dad, for allowing us to fully
follow our dream. Thanks to our mom (ma’ods) for her advice,
warmth and prayers that carried us through stormy weather.
To our brothers Andile and Sibulele for continuing to teach us
to pay attention to detail every time we sing.
We thank the Mdolombas for their gracious presence
in every way imaginable. Thank you to the Mdas, our
brother, and beautiful sisters, for respecting our wishes
and dreams. Ma’Mpinga you are indeed a million in one your existence completes us.
To the most precious and newest member of the
movement, Chulu thank you for your presence which has
brought a lot of blessings to our lives.
To all the beautiful souls that we’ve met throughout the
years, people that have helped us get closer to our dream
– we thank you!
To Sipho Nkosi, Clive Radebe, Portia Monama, Pearl
Bengani, Tumi Molekane, Olebile Mocoancoeng, Mzwakhe
Mbuli, Vincent Moloi, Neo and Kgomotso Matsunyane,
Molemo Kalaka, Karabo Kgoleng.
We thank the fellow brothers and sisters in the art,
and all organisations that inspired our growth over the
last seven years.
We thank our management team at Native Rhythms
Productions together with Sony Music for believing in us
and for complimenting and enhancing our vision.
Ree-burth Soweto’s finest, the Pulse Ink crew, viva Valia
Theatre Production, Uvuko Poetry Movement, Student Life
Council (VUT), FEmales, and Street Pop.
Last but not least – to our fans that we like to refer to
as “The Soil Family” - Thanks for patiently waiting for
this album and buying an original copy because if you
are reading this it means you have it in front of you.
Thank you to our Sowetan and Vaal family. Apologies
to whoever we may have left out - you are still very
important to us.
We’d also like to thank all the friends we’ve met during
this loooooooongggggggg journey, for everything they’ve
done for us including our friends in all social networks
that continue to support us.
God Bless all of you and those around you. See you soon
across all world stages.
Thank you. Yes You :-) The Soil
All songs recorded and mixed by Mpho Hlahla
@ Native Rhythms Studios, the song ‘JOY’ got
further voice treatment @ Ian Osrin Studios. All
songs produced by The Soil & Mpho Hlahla and
Mastered by Rogan Kelsey @ Lapdust Studios.
Excecutive Producer: Sipho Sithole.
Album Art by dreamstation & photography by
Joey Khuvutlu.