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Samthing Soweto
Born
Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba

(1988-01-21) 21 January 1988 (age 36)
Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation
  • Singer
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1989–present
LabelsIndependent
Websitewww.samthingsoweto.co.za

Samkelo Lelethu Mdolomba (born 21 January 1988), known professionally as Samthing Soweto, is a South African singer and songwriter.[1][2] Samthing is best known for his vocals on Sun-El Musician's song "Akanamali" and his number 1 single on spotify "Akulaleki".

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, and R&B for his second album, Isphithiphithi (2019), which became certified platinum by the Recording Industry of South Africa RiSA.[3]

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 the 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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4]

The Soil

After being released from the youth detention centre and eventually returning to school, Samthing Soweto began taking interest to a school choir.[5] The choir was led by Buhlebendalo Mda, who was later one of the vocalists of the a cappella group The Soil.[5] 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".[5]

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.[5] 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 a nu jazz band, The Fridge.[5] Mdolomba left both parties due to contractual disputes and creative differences.[5]

Influence

Prior to meeting members of The Soil, Mdolomba was arrested for public robbery in Avalon cemetery at Klipriviersoog, Soweto.[6] His sentence was suspended and he was sent to a youth detention center in Krugersdorp, West Rand.[5] 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.[5] 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.[5] He also stated that the male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo had an influence on him in venturing to a cappella.[7]

The Fridge

After leaving The Soil, Mdolomba continued with the nu jazz group, The Fridge. The band consisted of a drummer, Ade Omotade, bassist Muthusi and Mdolomba as the vocalist; it gained success in playing on local shows and festivals, including The Loft at Melville, Gauteng.[8] The group released their debut EP, Bass Drum & Sam, in 2011 through digital media.[9] The Fridge disbanded in 2015 due to two members, Thusi and Ade, relocating.[9]

2010–2021: 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.[10] 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, on 4 January 2014.[11] In support of Eb'suku, Mdolomba headlined the 2014 Joy of Jazz Festival, representing "Sounds Of Democracy".[12] He also performed at the Rocking The Daisies Festival held on 2–5 October 2014 at Cape Town, Western Cape.[13] 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.[14][15]

In 2015, Mdolomba appeared on the Coca-Cola-sponsored live-music television series Coke Studio Africa, alongside artist Spoek Mathambo and bassist Shane Cooper.[16] In May 2017, Mdolomba made his superior breakthrough with his feature on the Sun-El Musician song "Akanamali".[17] The song received South African Music Awards for Best Collaboration, SAMPRA highest airplay, and SAMRO highest airplay at the 24th South African Music Awards.[18]

On 20 September 2019, his second studio album, Isphithiphithi, was released.[19] 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.[20][21]

"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."

He released four singles for the album, including "Akulaleki" (featuring Sha Sha) which peaked number-one on the local Apple Music chart.[23] The song "Akulaleki" was certified gold.[24] At the 26th ceremony of South African Music Awards, Isphitiphithi received the Best Afro Pop Album award.[25]

2022–present: Upcoming projects

In early January 2022, he announced his upcoming live album which is set to be recorded on the second quarter of 2022.[26]

In March 2022, Soweto teased "Amagents" single on his Instagram account. The song was released on June 24, 2022.[27] It debuted number one in South Africa.[28] The song was certified gold in South Africa.[29]

In July 2022, Soweto embarked on his Now or Never tour, which included two dates.[30]

Tours

  • Now or Never (2022)

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected details, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Certifications
This N That Without Tempo
  • Released: 6 August 2010
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: digital download, CD
Isphithiphithi
  • Released: 20 September 2019[31]
  • Label: Independent
  • Formats: digital download, CD
 RiSA:Platinum[32]
Danko!
  • Released: 11 December 2020[33]
  • Label: Youbuntu
  • Formats: digital download, CD

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
ZA
"Get Down" (Fka Mash, Samthing Soweto) 2018 — Non-album single
"Omama Bomthandazo" (featuring Makhafula Vilakazi) 2019 Isphithiphithi
"Akulaleki" (featuring Sha Sha, DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small) —
"Weekend" (Samthing Soweto, De Mthuda) 2020 —
"Amagents" 2022 RiSA: Gold Non-album single
"10K Yey'nkomo" (Aymos, Mas Musiq, Samthing Soweto featuring Sha Sha) 2024 — Impilo
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Awards Year Category Results Ref.
SAMA 26 2020 Best Afro-Pop album Won [34]
SA AmaPiano Music Awards 2021 Best AmaPiano Live Vocal Performance Nominated [35][36]
Best Amapinao Vocalist Nominated
Best AmaPiano Collaboration Nominated
All Africa Music Awards 2022 Best Male Artist in Africa Inspirational Music Pending [37]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "7 things you didn't know about Samthing Soweto". SowetanLIVE.
  2. ^ "Samthing Soweto". Incwajana.
  3. ^ Adejoy (15 November 2019). "Samthing Soweto reacts to his album certified platinum | Fakaza News". Fakaza News.
  4. ^ a b c "Samthing Soweto details his struggles with reading and writing in school". TimesLIVE.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i "SAMTHING DISHES OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE SOIL FOR HIS FANS". Tha Bravado.
  6. ^ "Samthing Soweto says his community has forgiven him for his criminal past". TimesLIVE.
  7. ^ "Samthing Soweto talks about Isphithiphithi, childhood & music". Kaya FM.
  8. ^ Sbabe Khoza (2 May 2014), Samthing Soweto, retrieved 27 April 2016
  9. ^ a b "The Fridge | Design Indaba". Design Indaba. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Sharp turns on an angry road". Mail & Guardian.
  11. ^ "Eb'suku". Samthing Soweto.
  12. ^ "In Pictures: The Joy of Jazz". eNCA.
  13. ^ "Rocking the Daisies full line-up". Bizcommunity.com.
  14. ^ "Rhythm City's fresh new title sequence". e.tv.
  15. ^ "Otelo Burning Mixtape". Akhona Ndungane.
  16. ^ "Folk meets House for a Culoe De Song on Coke Studio". Channel24.
  17. ^ "Listen Free to Sun-El Musician – Akanamali (feat. Samthing Soweto) Radio". iHeartRadio.
  18. ^ "Sun-El Musician, Joyous Celebration big winners at first night of Samas". SowetanLIVE.
  19. ^ "Listen to Samthing Soweto's Album 'Isiphithiphithi'". OkayAfrica.
  20. ^ "Samthing Soweto's Isphithiphithi Makes Apple Music History!". People Magazine.
  21. ^ "Local artist Samthing Soweto on what it's like to be top of Apple Music". East Coast Radio.
  22. ^ "'I'm surprised and excited!'". Daily Sun.
  23. ^ "Samthing Soweto Thought He Was Too Old for Chart Success. He Was Wrong". Rolling Stone.
  24. ^ Matiwane, Nonku (10 November 2019). "SAMTHING SOWETO GOES GOLD". Daily SUN.
  25. ^ Shabangu, Nobantu. "Here's a List of the 2020 South African Music Awards (SAMAs) Winners – OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  26. ^ "Samthing Soweto engages with his fans over live show concept – Sunday World". Sunday World. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  27. ^ Maako, Keitumetse (23 June 2022). "Samthing Soweto releases highly-anticipated single | Channel". South Africa: Channel. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  28. ^ Tsewu, Siya (24 June 2022). "Samthing Soweto's new single Amagents is already topping charts and he's grateful | Drum". South Africa: Drum. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  29. ^ "Samthing Soweto's "Amagents" has been certified Gold". Independent Online. 13 July 2022.
  30. ^ Gaanakgomo, Constance (1 July 2022). "Samthing Soweto announces two cities for his 'Now or Never' Tour". TshisaLIVE. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Isphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto". Apple. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  32. ^ "Samthing Soweto's album hits platinum sales – Sunday World". Sunday World. 9 November 2019.
  33. ^ "Danko! by Samthing Soweto". Apple. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  34. ^ Entertainment Reporter (5 August 2020). "WATCH: Samthing Soweto is 'surprised' by his big SAMA win". Independent Online.
  35. ^ Shumba, Ano (21 July 2021). "SA Amapiano Music Awards 2021: All the nominees | Music in South Africa". Music in Africa.
  36. ^ Shumba, Ano. "SA Amapiano Music Awards 2021: All the winners | Music in Africa". Music in Africa. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  37. ^ Hansen, Gabriel Myers (16 September 2022). "All Africa Music Awards 2022: All the nominees". Music in Africa. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
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