THE appropriately named Travelling Man is the tale of Maxhoba’s travels, both spiritually and physically. Travelling Man is the long-awaited follow-up to his debut release in 2010. So just what has this gravelly voiced soul singer been doing in all that time?
The genial Maxhoba (pictured) uses the CD cover to give some insight. The design is a circle within which are famous landmarks and Maxhoba’s face in the middle. It includes international places where he has performed like Berlin and Bangkok and the names of townships from where he and his parents hail.
“I still have hopes and dreams of travelling places,” he says. “I’m into cultural exchanges with music.”
But it is his spiritual journey that has finally led to the release of this album: “I have been on a spiritual journey since 2009.” He hesitates, not sure how to word the information he needs to relate: “I get vision and hear things. I spoke to a friend and asked them to take me to somebody.”
Again a pause: “In my family there is a line of sangomas and a line of very religious people. I met the right people who explained my visions. I have always enjoyed contributing to a person’s life in those kind of matters, spiritual matters. I have always believed that I am a messenger.
“It has been an interesting journey consulting with my elders in my village and the spiritual elders. At the same time my understanding of God has increased.”
The spiritual journey happened immediately after the release of his first album when he experienced writer’s block: “I think I was being told to just sit down and listen to what is happening to me.”
Once he embarked on this spiritual journey he found creativity that much easier. Travelling Man has been released globally on digital and he is determined to make a success of the album.
“There is a capella, a touch of rock and a touch of neo and Afro-soul.”
“Skere is a chant sung in the villages of the Transkei, done with a bossa nova beat. Ke Tshetse means ‘I have crossed over’ and has a touch of nostalgia. The sound is very calming and has a heavy spirituality about it.”
He has also included a tribute to Xhosa crooner, Stompie Mavi: “The songs he made resonate with the life in the rural Transkei which is where I come from. I was fortunate enough to meet him before he died when I was still trying to make it in East London. He was in a wheelchair already. He is that guy who made it cool to sing in Xhosa.”
On this album Maxhoba praises the influences from his past, works with artists like Zuluboy and artists who have potential like up-and-coming Marley Kekana. And with the different genres that he explores on the album together with the spiritual messages in his lyrics, Travelling Man is an album rich in exploration.