Kin in Sound and Motion: In Conversation with The Brother Moves On

Composed of six members - Ayanda Zalekile, Simphiwe Tshabalala, Zelizwe Mthembu, Mthunzi Mvubu, Muhammad Dawjee, and lead vocalist, Siyabonga Mthembu – The Brother Moves On is a Pan-African musical outfit seeking to charge the world with thought provoking funky jazz. It would be erroneous to assume anything about their listenership, let alone their approach to their craft. As such, we thought it fit to hear directly from them about their latest offering titled $/he Who Feeds You ... Owns You. [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="1,2,3,4" ihc_mb_template="1" ] Q: You launched the album and then went on a cross-country tour over three weekends. Where did you go and what informed this decision? A: We went to Jo’burg, Cape Town and Durban. These are the mega cities that have spaces that are 400 - 500 capacity, and where we knew our audiences would sell out our shows, thus the risk was lowered. Q: As a band, you have something about you that established a tribe rather than fans. What would you attribute that to? A: Our music is rather personal in tone and lends itself to personal ownership. So, the idea of collective adoration was always going to fail in this space. The music informs the idea of a tribe trying to thrive, and thus the consciousness lends us to the tribe rather than to fans. Q: Your adoration doesn’t just sit in South Africa, as evidenced by the response you got in Botswana. Following your South African tour, you took the show to Europe, where did you go? A: We were in Germany, Belgium, Slovenia, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Poland, and in the Netherlands we played Amsterdam and Utrecht. Q: Were any of these locations return trips or were they all new? A: Well, Berlin, Llujblana and London were return trips but the rest were new to the collective. Q: As a musical unit that takes its time between releases, do you find that programmers nag you to give them something new so they can slot you into festivals, or is there an understanding that the breathing space is in service of the music? A: Nope! There is a lack of understanding with regards to the time between releases from promoters and festivals. What’s even weirder since COVID hit us is the lifespan of the album is shortened. So, we are still struggling with this balance and the breathing space in service of the music. Q: You featured a familiar name from Botswana, Bokani Dyer, on the album. As a band, what would you say the excitement is about collaborating with artists outside of the core unit? A: How do you choose who to play with? We generally don't have the idea of a core unit any more. Our thrust lately is to push on the idea of a revolving door as our unique selling point, and this is mainly due to members in the band becoming fathers. We generally let the universe choose our collaborating artists. It’s never been a conscious decision on our part, which is why it stays exciting and interesting. Q: Beyond the title and the lyrics of the songs, what would you say the core theme of the album is for you? A: For the non-Nguni speaker (not that you need to translate yourself to be understood), it would simply be, “Own your joy. Own your misery. Don't be force-fed.” Q: That is profound. Thank You. Finally, Siya, you recently performed as part of the BBC Proms ‘South African Songbook’ showcase in London. Do you envisage that TBMO will be catalogued in the way that the artists you honoured have been? A: Yes, I do; and sadly this will happen when the band members are deceased, as that is the way of the world. You are appreciated when you are gone, not whilst you are here. Postscript: $/he Who Feeds You ... Owns You is a rich album that not only has the signature political edge that The Brother Moves On has summoned their tribe through, but is necessary as the world navigates its way from a global shift. Through the nine tracks, one is transported through stories of Black people, nation states, families and more; all the while underscored by robust instrumentation and emotive vocals. [/ihc-hide-content]

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Kin in Sound and Motion: In Conversation with The Brother Moves On

New music does not longevity guarantee, KATLEGO KOLANYANE-KESUPILE discovers in an exclusive conversation with South African jazz-fusion ensemble, The Brother Moves On

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Kin in Sound and Motion: In Conversation with The Brother Moves On

New music does not longevity guarantee, KATLEGO KOLANYANE-KESUPILE discovers in an exclusive conversation with South African jazz-fusion ensemble, The Brother Moves On

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