We are famous in Swaziland.” An awkward silence ensues. “Are you serious?” I ask. “Yip we are,” Thulile Zama says.
One of the vocalists in the group, says, “I’m telling you, when people hear that we are in Swaziland, it’s a frenzy.”
The others start interjecting. “Radio stations call us wanting to talk to us, newspapers want to write about us and the people just love us too,” says Zoe Masuku, the drummer and vocalist.
“Half the time we have our Hollywood swag on, our glasses on, you know, we’ve got to look the part,” Thulile says, laughing.
She seems to be the most outspoken in the group and has a sense of humour that will charm the socks off anyone.
Heels over Head is a contemporary jazz group formed in 2008 and made up of four women: Thulile, Zoe, Nomkhosi Mazibuko and Lindi Ngonela.
Nomkhosi is a vocalist and Lindi plays the piano.
At Zack’s, Wilson’s Wharf, on a cold day, after the waiter has taken their order of nachos, chocolate cake and coffee, I ask them what they are about.
Thulile answers, “A bunch of sophisticated, talented women under 30 who are musicians and bring a fresh sound to jazz.”
Zoe doesn’t take kindly to their being called a bunch. “Really Thuli, of all conjunctions to use, you use a bunch?”
Nomkhosi bursts out laughing and Lindi has a dazed look.
“Let us introduce you to the drama queen of Heels over Head,” Lindi says and they all laugh.
They get on well, which is great for a group. Talk is interrupted for a few minutes when they see a friend they thought they had seen on TV. He denies it was him and they mock him about wanting his autograph.
“Sorry about that,” Thulile says. “Anyway I was saying that we are awesome musicians and beyond creative.”
Nomkhosi hasn’t said much. Asked if she’s okay, she says, “The others are answering all the questions and leaving me with nothing to say.”
They laugh and she takes the opportunity to add, “We are beautiful in every way imaginable. We are great performers and yet down to earth.”
Why choose jazz of all genres? “I believe jazz is the fundamental music genre,” says Lindi. “It’s flexible, wide, timeless and influences our compositions.
“We studied music and know that with jazz you can do any other kind of music.”
The band has performed in Joburg, Cape Town, parts of the Eastern Cape and Swaziland.
“We have a wide fan base. People as far away as India and Mauritius love our music,” says Lindi.
With a Yamaha Young Artist award to their credit, their biggest honour so far has been their Sama nomination for best contemporary jazz album for their debut Could It Be?
“I still can’t believe we were nominated with Jonathan Butler – like how real is that?” Thulile asks?
Zoe starts laughing and the others join in.
“I remember how I told the girls that I dreamt Marlyn (their manager) had called to say we were nominated. Turns out it was true and I just kept on screaming like crazy,” Zoe says.
Even though they didn’t win – “we weren’t really expecting it,” says Zoe – they see the nomination as a sign of approval from a tough music industry.
As for nods from the industry, they are still excited that fellow jazz musician Esperanza Spalding won a best newcomer Grammy earlier this year.
“She beat out a whole lot of other musicians who are more popular than her like Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, Justin Bieber and Drake. And she’s a jazz artist? Come on now that was a great moment for all jazz musicians,” Thulile says.
They’ve had their music played on radio stations ranging from Ukhozi FM and East Coast radio to Kaya FM and SAfm.
“We are amazed at how we’ve been received and we’re shocked when we are performing and see people singing along to our music. It means a lot to us and makes us work harder,” Lindi says.
Nomkhosi agrees. “There’s potential for growth. There is a market we still haven’t cracked as much as we would’ve loved to and that’s the young people.”
I ask them about the many jazz festivals being held in KwaZulu-Natal and am met with blank stares.
“Those are not jazz festivals,” Thulile retorts. “They are just music festivals because there are only ever two people on the line-up who are actually jazz artists. I find it irritating that other genres like house, kwaito and Afro-pop have precedence over proper jazz. It’s just a marketing gimmick that needs to stop.”
Which is why they prefer to do their own gigs. “It’s not like we don’t want to feature at those festivals. We do and we’d love to, but they don’t approach us as jazz musicians to be part of the festivals,” says Zoe.
“We’d rather do our own gigs where we know that we do proper jazz.”
Their next plan of action? They have not yet decided.
“We are still performing songs from Could it Be? and we’ll see when we can go into the studio. We’ve recorded a live DVD and we hope to release it soon,” Nomkhosi says.
“Um you’re forgetting one thing,” Zoe says.
“What?” Nomkhosi responds.
“We are going to rock the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown this year and we will give them a show they’ll never forget.”
Confidence is a always a great thing to have and these four women have it in truckloads. - Sunday Tribune