Diana Kinyanjui 
They gracefully deliver a vibrant fusion of of African rhythmic elements, blended with the velvety tones of with R&B music. Mix that will some good looks, and you have a winning boy band.
Afro-Soul trio, 047, made up of Ngcali Nundu, Lihle Baleni, and Sihle Mdaka return with their latest single titled EKHAYA, when translated from the isiXhosa language of their origin, means, Home.
Signed under Nova Sounds, founded by singer Vusi Nova, the trio released on Friday, 12 September. EKHAYA symbolises their unity and a place of belonging. They say home is where the heart is, which sums up the messaging in the music – not only a physical place, but one that carries culture, emotion, comfort, and safety.
“As a group, we go through different experiences, hence our songs speak to different people. The song “Ekhaya” is a true reflection of this statement, because it reflects home in different definitions, allowing listeners to interpret or relate to the song how they receive it ,” Mdaka says.
“We all go to our places of work, which are sometimes far from home, and we face hardships, struggles, and tough times, but the moment you go home, you feel refreshed and happy again,” Nundu reiterated.
“The song also touches on those who have no parents. It encourages them to find a home in the house of the Lord or In God himself. This will bring you closer to Home, and we can only hope they enjoy it,” Baleni adds.
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Describe your sound and style on Ekhaya?
What came to mind when we created the song in terms of the sound was our first album ‘’wenúngowam”. The sound of the song takes you back to when you first fell in love with 047, and style-wise, this is us. We just stuck to our authentic style of writing music.
What does this song mean for all three of you?
As a group, we go through different experiences, hence our songs speak to different people. The song “Ekhaya” is a true reflection of this statement, because it reflects home in different definitions, allowing listeners to interpret or relate to the song how they receive it.
How have you evolved since you started out as a group?
From when we started to where we are now, God has been good, and through experience, we’ve been able to learn, grow, and reflect. We’ve learnt to leave certain things behind, grow with a new team, and reflect from our past or previous mistakes.
When was the last song you released before Ekhaya, and how was it received?
We released the song Ithuba featuring Zuko_SA. The reception was amazing, and our supporters and receivers of the song asked for more, hence we are releasing our single “Ekhaya” now. The demand for a new song was too much, so we had to listen to our supporters. We are also working on finishing our album.
What is your signature and will never change about 047?
We pride ourselves in live music, providing our listeners with an experience with every song, whether it is following the calming sounds of the piano, the feel of the guitar, or just the general acoustic sounds, we give every music lover an element to enjoy and fall in love with.
Do you think there’s still room in the industry for your type of music or genre?
Yes, it’s definitely a genre that will be around for a long time, our music as well, because apart from being relatable, we give people music that uplifts as well as encourages them, and more than anything, music that speaks to the soul.
What are your plans for this year?
Our biggest plan this year is to release music of which we’ve started doing so with our single “Ekhaya”. October, our Album is set to drop, and it also carries so much of our emotions and feeling, featuring the greats in the music industry, to name a few: Nathi Mankayi, Vusi Nova, and Zain SA.
You are signed under Vusi Nova’s label, how has it been working with him, and what have you learned?
Being part of Nova Sounds has been both a pleasure and a lesson because there is so much we’ve learned about the industry while part of Nova Sounds, and there are so many mistakes we’ve made while part of Nova Sounds, but because we are part of The Nova Sounds Family, every mistake is a lesson and every achievement is a celebration.
Social Media:
Insta – @_047Records
Tiktok – @047records
Facebook – Wenúngowam
Ekhaya Lnk: https://africori.to/047ekhaya
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