Name: Siselabonga
Members: Nongoma Ndlovu (keys, vocals), Fabio Meier (percussion)
Interviewee: Nongoma Ndlovu
Nationalities: South-African & Zimbabwean & Swiss (Nongoma), Swiss (Fabio)
Current release: Siselabonga's new full-length album Halo's Glitter is out via A Tree in a Field.

If you enjoyed this Siselabonga interview and would like to stay up to date with their music, visit their official homepage. The band are also on Instagram, and Facebook.

For a deeper dive, read our earlier Siselabonga interview. We also have an interview with Fabio about his approach to drumming. 



Do you think that some of your earliest musical experiences planted a seed for your interest in writing lyrics or poetry? How and when did you start writing?

The first song I wrote was at age of 4 - an Ode to Mom and Dad.

Then, between the ages of 11-15, I started a girlband and me and the other band members used to have writing workshops / bootcamps over a span of a month to come up with content for a performance repertoire.

In my early days my dad introduced us to mostly instrumental music to heighten, enhance and develop our melodic skills, allowing room to elevate our writing skills.

Entering new worlds and escapism through music and literature have always exerted a very strong pull on me. What do you think you are drawn to most when it comes to writing?

I think I always derive grounding myself within the polarity aspect of the human experience drawing influence from my own,social and external spaces.

My biggest mandate is always to write music that elevates in some form of a way.

What were some of the artists and albums which inspired you early on purely on the strength of their lyrics? What moves you in the lyrics of other artists?

Michael Jackson definitely had a huge impact on me energetically because I feel like he was one of (if not the only) artist that was able to merge the dynamic power of pop and social commentary in a way that inspired people across generations.

Miriam Makeba's music also transcendentally moved me in the sense that she made me feel seen as someone that lived in the diaspora (and I'm a diasporan child).



Her ability to reflect the times from a Southern African context during a very painfully complex time (Apartheid) and her courage inspired me extremely.

Have there been song lyrics which actually made you change (aspects of) your life? If so, what do you think, leant them that power?

I think the conviction in an artists voice, time and passion undeniably has a spiritual pull on anyone listening to o the music regardless of - but especially if - the song has a strong message.

There are too many to mention.

It is sometimes said that “music begins where words end.” What do you make of that?

As the saying goes by the infamous Bob Marley: "One thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain."

I think that statement stamped in time speaks for itself.

I have always considered many forms of music to be a form of poetry as well. Where do you personally see similarities? What can music express which may be out of reach for poetry?

Melody, melody, melody …

Did I mention melody?

The relationship between words and music has always intrigued me. How do you see it? In how far can music take you to places with your writing you would possibly not have visited without it?

Music gives the artist the freedom to express themselves in the most vulnerable form, seeing that most of us are shy and "introverted" by nature. It also helps heal and keep your inner child alive.

It's the most candid form prayer in my opinion.

What are areas/themes/topics that you keep returning to in your lyrics?

I'd say ...  introspection, self -awareness, inspiration, motivation and love to name a few.

On the basis of a piece off Halo's Glitter, tell me about how the lyrics grew into their final form and what points of consideration were.

Well, some of the songs I had already had sitting in my creative vault for some time but was waiting for the right time for them to flow.

Working with Fabio has been creatively effortless which also allowed the songs to find form and solid ground where the lyrical backdrop is concerned.

Do you tend to start writing with what will be the first line of the finished lyrics? The chorus? At a random point? What are the words that set the process in motion?

I usually start with a melody, then the words kind of find their way to me.