(This article was originally published on the 9th of July)
We recently had a chat with the South African singer, dancer Manthe Ribane and the London-based producer Okzharp Gervase Gordon about their insights into music as well as their collaborative musical offering, Closer Apart*.
With creatives’ ensembles sprouting almost everywhere within the creative scene in South Africa, allowing young minds to fuse their urgent creative energies in pursuit of a less hostile and transformed ‘scene’, how important is it for you to collaborate and establish networks with people from diverse artistic/creative ‘orientations’, so to speak?
MR: It’s important to realise our existence and the opportunities that have a-raised through time. I believe that our responsibility is to charge up our creativity into a more educational experience. I am still learning more and understanding my purpose within my craft. Truly grateful that we are living in a world full of new possibilities to evolve through the power of the Internet, and inspire the world through the power of our intentions.
How would you best describe your sound?
MR: Unpredictable new wave.
OGG: I describe my sound using sounds. I saw someone reviewed the album and called it Electrosoul, which I think I like.
Drawing from all your previous creative projects, how do they influence you at a sonic level?
MR: Time travel through my creative communication. I'm constantly finding new ways to evolve in different wavelengths. I also love finding new inspirational humanoid who keep me insanely hungry and thriving for more solitude to stay in tune with my future mood board. Mostly my siblings: DearRibane Creative Collective. Rei Kawabuko. Zaha Hadid. Bijork. AHHHHHH I could go on for days, it’s powerful.
OGG: I'm really not sure.
What would you wish to be your biggest contribution to art in general, and music in particular?
MR: My wish is to create an Art escape school: designed by Zaha Hadid; and school uniform designed by Rei Kawabuko; school Anthem by Bijork; and school shoes
by Nike Lab. I would love to collect all the homeless children from the streets and orphans to join the school. That’s the ultimate dream.
OGG: The work is its own reward. Beyond that, I hope people like it. It's an amazing thought that one of our songs might be someone's makeup/breakup/wakeup song.
As a musician whose sound leans (arguably) towards a kind of (afro)futurism- though you’re welcome to rebuke this tag- what do you think is the importance of staying true to your roots while simultaneously confronting the impending future?
MR: The past was planted for the future to stay alive, and it’s important to install the rooted truth that has been planted. I am a Pedi Lady Bird, with a gift to share with the world. It’s critical to celebrate my rare breed SePedi. With our 1st EP and 2nd EP there’s lots of Pedi songs, blending the songs with a beautiful visual communication. We learn from the past to create a new future.
As a Black Goddess, if you were to deliver a sermon to emerging creatives, what would be your “Three Commandments”?
MR: Don’t do drugs. A healthy Mind has a wealthy Future.
Read More. Listen More and Do More.
Surround yourself with greatness only.
What makes your long-distance work relationship with Okzharp work?
MR: Trusting the process, respect and compassion towards the project.
What makes your long distance work relationship with Manthe work?
OGG: All our music has been made when we were in the same room, so in those moments the distance wasn't really a factor. But beyond that, being patient and trusting the process.
As a body of work, Closer Apart could be said to fall within the long tradition of ‘ALTERNATIVE cultural and musical production’, a sonic critique of the proper/norm, of convention, a negation of 'formular'. What would be that one thing that makes the project stand out for you?
MR: Inspirational album that would shape and inspire the future generations.
OGG: The one thing that makes it stand out is probably just that it's us. One of the best things that anyone has said to me about the album was that at no point did it remind them of anyone else.
Abel, a character in 'Bird Monk Seding' (a novel by Lesego Rampolokeng), says he came into writing (literature) not because some writer “fried [his] brains”, but because he could not stand what he was reading. As a singer/vocalist, why did you come into music? Can you stand what you’re ‘hearing’ in the radio? And is there any musician in particular that “fries your brains” currently?
MR: Music heals. Music became my escape from reality. I fell involve with music the day my Father played classic music. That was the only music that made us sleep or concentrate on reading. He knew how to clam us down. Before music I was a dancer and I got an opportunity to tour the world with Die Antwoord. I remember so vividly Ninja suggested that I should consider doing music with them. I felt that I was not ready to step into heavy shoes at that time. But this idea kept on bouncing back to my mind. I got a call from Chris Saunders introducing me to Okzharp Gervase Gordon to star in his Film called Ghost Diamond. Six months later we started shooting the film. Gervase came up with an idea to record a track for the film. A year later the tracks have been approved by Hyperdup. First EP, WOW; first nomination , first Europe Tour and that was the start of a powerful collaboration. I choose on what I would love to listen to. I still love to listen to classic fm in the mornings & depending on my mood, I love KayaFM. After 12pm to 3pm and Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm and I switch to Soundcloud to listen to WaxFM; my ears are ready to be inspired. Music that I love currently: Sun Ra.
OGG: Radio is obviously sublime and ridiculous and mundane, often at the same time. Which is fine. Lately I'm really into beats; I love the new rugged, twisted sound Deamonds has been working with. Also, really into another UK producer called 808Melo (who makes beats for HeadieOne). I'd struggle to fully explain why. I just like the sounds, melodies, flows. I hate high hats but I like their ones. I'm going to see the Goldberg Variations live in London soon so I've been listening to Bach too. Crazy.
How would you describe the South African music scene to a ‘Londoner’?
OGG: Different and the same.
*Okzharp & Manthe Ribane - Closer Apart to be released across Africa by Black Major Release in conjunction with the global release by Hyperdub Records
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