Name: IzangoMa
Founding members: Sibusile Xaba (vocals, keys), Ashley Kgabo (synths, snare drum, drum machine)
Further current members: Khanyisile Mtshobile (vocals), Neo Erasmus (vocals), Fakazile Nkosi (vocals), Malusi Masia (alto & tenor saxophone), Jack Mcwabe (trumpet), Mthokozisi Mazibuko (congas), Yao Agbodohu (djembe), Soares Bruno (maracas), Omar Machava (cow bell), Virgilio Faruk (guitars)
Nationality: South African
Current release: IzangoMa's Ngo Ma is out May 26th 2023 via Brownswood.

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Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

It comes from everything and everything, be it Mother Nature, Love, Simplicity and all that is great and good. Our main sponsor being Umdali the Best aka God.

They do tend to contribute to our music through lyrics. Our second single “Ngo Ma“ and “Le Nna Mfana“ touch on the abovementioned subjects in the question.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

We usually just hook up empty-headed, step into the cockpit and to destinations we celebrate!

So far at least ... it’s all been freestyle, with the exception of our second single “Tribute to Johnny Dyani“ being the only “premeditated“ situation in our forthcoming album

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions?

No ... All uninturupted freestyle

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Sibusile – weed _ Ash - beer

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

Most of the time it’d be the drum machine.

We try not to overthink things, which tends to work best for our workflow

Once you've started, how does the work gradually emerge?

We just layer stuff and try not to correct stuff that initially sounds out of place (which ends up making absolute sense later, lol) … and most importantly, celebrate happy accidents!!! We‘ve witnessed miracles emerge this way.

You can say we’re believers in this process @ this point..

Many writers have claimed that as soon as they enter into the process, certain aspects of the narrative are out of their hands. Do you like to keep strict control over the process or is there a sense of following things where they lead you?

The latter is utterly us!

Often, while writing, new ideas and alternative roads will open themselves up, pulling and pushing the creator in a different direction. Does this happen to you, too, and how do you deal with it? What do you do with these ideas?

We never have any direction making us automatically immune ... lol

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Free, Respectful and Loving with a dash of Gratitude

Especially in the digital age, the writing and production process tends towards the infinite. What marks the end of the process? How do you finish a work?

Typically we select a sections of say 7 minutes and records drums for example until the end. That’d be the end, whether the track likes it or not ...lol

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

It is of paramount importance as it allows us to do that and come back with fresh ears.

Honestly, that varies from track to track … very difficult to say. Jeez.. “Mute this. Move that to the next bar. Turn that down a bit. A bit of delay there etc ...” Hard to describe, really.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

The importance of the three goes without saying, otherwise there is no track or there is, but it sounds cringe worthy!

We do mix some pieces ourselves and have others done by our fellow engineers. Mastering, however, is something we let the professors handle.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

Our album took a while to get released but we totally felt that already due to that situation thus relating.

The remedy should be a continuation in the form of a second project!

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

Of course it iiiis! Lol ... Coffee never stood a chance.

The Fun, the Joy!!!!!