If you listen with your ear on the ground you might

hear the sound

meet the so il : a 4 -member acapella s ing ing group whose mus ic can best be descr ibed as ‘ Kas i Soul ’ . The So il str ives to fuse the ir vo ices to del iver melod ic and harmonious messages that are a imed at upl ift ing and heal ing souls all around the world .

The f irst member of the group ex ists in a sp ir itual form as The Creator of all . The other three members of the group take a phys ical form: Buhlebendalo Mda, Luph indo Ngxanga , and Nts ika Fana Ngxanga , who are occas ionally also supported by two back ing vocal ists , Asanda and Tshwarelo .

The So il cla ims they are s imply channels of the songs that they bel ieve come to them from a sacred place where they just serve as med iums that help carry the message through .

the group

the album & the musicThis self-t itled album by The So il is surely go ing to take you back to the t ime when the Creator sculpted the sk ies and the land , cover ing it with the so il . The group ’s mus ic bears test imony to the fact that God created man us ing the very so il and thousands of years later He gave a vo ice to The So il . It i s through th is bel ief that The So il inv ites you to l isten with your ear on the ground as you might hear the sound .

Def ined as ‘ Kas i Soul ’ - the group ’s mus ic features in a contemporary townsh ip style an eclect ic mix of mus ical genres such as jazz , h ip -hop , Afro-pop , and Afro-soul . The group ’s mus ical style is ev ident in its rhythmic vocal bass l ine , with constant beat box ing - a d ist inct feature in the mus ic - whilst the remain ing vo ices contr ibute to the chordal and polyphon ic accompan iment . Equal and up to the challenge , each of the group members take turns in solo vocal performance to d isplay the ir most beaut iful rend it ion of the melod ic verses embedded in each song .

The album is a reflect ion of the group ’s asp irat ion for a world full of joy, hope , fa ith , goodwill and love - a message carr ied out with each performance and each song .

The JourneyThis album is a culminat ion of years of ded icat ion , hard work and a pass ion for the art . Hav ing pa id the ir dues as a performing group in and around the country, The So il is as comfortable at b ig mus ic fest ivals and concerts as it is on theater stages . In the past 7 years The So il has graced stages of the most renowned events such as the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz , Grahamstown Arts Fest ival , Jazz by the R iver , as well as theater stages of the Nelson Mandela Theater as well as the Catalyst Theatre in Cape Town.

It is through th is journey that The So il str ives to be a household name and a global brand impr inted in the hearts and minds of those who asp ire for a better world .

the MembersBuhlebendalo Mda aka Buhle : Th is Soweto-born and only female member of the group has always loved mus ic and the attent ion that comes with it . For Buhle , The So il completes her l ife puzzle : it ’s her second home. Her l ife long dream has always been to work with the l ikes of the Late and Great Gogo Mirr iam Makeba , Mama Bus i Mhlongo . Thand iswa Mazwai , S imph iwe Dana , R ingo Madl ingoz i , and Glor ia Bosman, Hleng iwe Mhlaba , just to name a few.

Buhle descr ibes herself or her mus ic as soulful or “Jazzy f i zzle” , which is cons idered to be a mixture of all sorts of genres from which she has created her own soulful or “Jazzy f i zzle” . To Buhle all genres do it for her , as they tend to match her every mood .

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Nts ika Fana Ngxanga aka Da FanArt istc : Also dreamt of be ing on stage as early as pr imary school ing years and used school desks as drums and turned every song into dance mus ic , and transforming the class ical jazz songs that he grew up be ing exposed to into h is own mus ical world . Nts ika got introduced to clap and tap mus ic , “apostol ic gospel mus ic ” , and learnt to s ing from the heart , and to add emot ion to the very vo ice one was blessed with , and learnt how to connect with mus ic in its total ity as well as the art of back ing .

The def in ing moment for Nts ika was when he started dreaming and rece iv ing songs in h is sleep which he co ins “someth ing very heavenly and humbl ing” , which he embraced as a G ift and God ’s med ium through which he was to pass messages of love , hope , courage , fa ith , joy, peace and happ iness amongst many.

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Luph indo Ngxanga aka Master P : cons iders h imself the fr iendl iest and warmest member of the group . Contrary to h is mascul ine beatbox prowess with which he met iculously k icks the bass drum and snare , accompan ied by h is harmon ic bassl ines , Luph indo is a human itar ian in the group and loves to see the members happy all the t ime . Luph indo uses h is f ine arts academic tra in ing to th ink d ifferently and see ing th ings in perspect ive which he then appl ies in the construct ion of ideas in the songs The So il f inally puts together . Luph indo is the ‘art ist for sh izy ’ .

Th is i s the ir story !

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Book ing and Management Enqu ir ies : Nat ive Rhythms Product ions +27 ( 1 1 ) 325 2632 or e-ma il management@nat iverhythms .co .za

“I was introduced to clap and tap music,“apostolic gospel music”, by my older brother Luphindo Ngxanga. I loved this kind of music because it taught me how to sing from the heart, to add emotion to the very voice one was blessed with, and how to connect with music in its totality.”

Ntsika Fana Ngxanga

I describe my sound as soulful or “Jazzy fizzle” cause my style is so diverse and I mix all sorts of genres to create and match my every mood. The Soil completes my life puzzle. It’s my second home. VIVA KASI SOUL VIVA!

Buhlebendalo Mda

“My role in the group is very simply, humanity - I love to see people happy all the time. When it comes to singing I’m the one who plays bass and most of the time I do beatbox which has taken me years to perfect. With beatbox I do the harmony, kick, and snare all at the same time. “

Luphindo Ngxanga

IntroComposed by: Portia MonamaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Joy (We Are Family)

Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

First verse and you know it does not get any worse / I got my friends and my pals singing this to nurse / We wish our voices bring you peace on this earth / Cause in the name of Jesus Christ we were blessed at birth / With the gift of singing your sorrows away / We will sing until we drive your sorrows away / Please don’t cry the winds of change are blowing our way / And I know I don’t know who you are but I know we are family /

You’re probably sitting there on your own / You’re probably listening to this song /

It’s pumping all over your radio / And suddenly you feel a lot of joy / You singing along / The Soil comes in you don’t care you just carry on /

I’ve got joy in my heart / And you know it’s the kind of feeling / Followed by a sense of healing / I’ve got joy in my heart / I’ve got love in my heart / I’ve got joy in my heart /

U Thixo waku dala / Wena wandi zala / NgoBuhlebendalo wandithiya / ndiyabulela ma’Mpinga / Wen’usis’thandwa sam / Akekho endimthandayo njengawe / Mama wam ndiyabulela / ma’Mpinga usis’thandwa sam / I’m saying this because we are family /

Ndivuke namhla ekuseni / Ilanga libetha ebusweni / Ndahamba ndaya ecaweni / Ndathandaza uMesiya ndabulela uSandigcinile.

“We consider you, our family”. - The Soil

BaninziComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Baninzi abafuna lonk’uthando lwentliziyo yam / Ndikunika lonk’uthando lwentliziyo yam / Mama, mama / Ndibambe kanje ndibambe kaso.

“Baninzi is a song that tells a story about the unconditional love we have for our mothers and how everyone wants a piece of that love.” - The Soil

SundayComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Soil sister with beautiful black eyes / Ntwana yam she kills me every time when she smiles / Educated black sister with a conscious mind / Even though I say so myself she’s my type / Ethwel’iqhiya pretty much like umam’uS’biya / Using nothing but u buhle bakhe ebendibiza / Samza ngashiva lomntwana uyang’bandisa / Profound sister ben’geke ngiye daar ngindiza / Mara akusizi ukulinda ngasukuma ngayozazisa / Igama uNtsika kanti elakhe mfana uSiza /

Ya blender daideng uyayizwa iyahamba daideng / Sa chiller e cafe kanti ungwana uhamba that day /

Would it make you smile seeing her again / Seems like she’s gone and she’ll never return / You act like this girl’s the only reason you win /

Would it make you smile / Making her your bride she’s gone now that’s why you singing this song / You look so sad man she left you bad /

On that day it was a Sunday / U buhle bakhe took my breath away / Ingxaki kukuthi ebehamba that day / But I hope to see her someday / Please believe me when I say / In this sour life you’re my honey / you’re the only one

abekho abanye /

Sthandwa sami ngicela sibambisane sihlalisane / Ngumvulo ulwesibini nolwesithathu / Hayi alukho usuku olufana nolasuku / Mde unomkhitha wayevel’eMtata / Lomfana ndamphiwa Nguye uSomandla / Ethwel’ipanama yakhe yama krwala emnyama / Ndaziva ukuthi hayi lomfana uyandi charmer / Ndaxelela umama / uMama waxelela utata / And soon sizaw’tshata nalo mfana obendi charmer / Akhange ndilinde mandi khawuleze ndizazise/ Igama nguBuhle wathi elakhe umfana wuSihle / Ya blender le way / Uyazivela nawe iya rhymer le way / Sa chiller elwandle / Kodwa bendigoduka that day /

Molo sthandwa sam kunjani lovey wam / ndikunika uthando lwam luthathe please ungasabi / Njalo ndikucinga njalo / Sthandwa sam sentliziyo yam ndikunika uthando / Although bathi ng’bloma ekasi lama psycho / Mara ubani othe alukho uthando eSoweto / Ngubani lo ndithetha ngaye igama nguNoluthando / uMama wabantwana bam ozakundinika usapho / Lomntwana lo uvela pha kwaMakhumalo and yena ingathi unohambo.

“This is a very short, beautiful story about a guy seeing this incredible girl and instantly falls in love with her on a Sunday afternoon. He finally gets a chance to talk and get to know her better but their conversation gets cut short simply because the girl had to leave. All they are left with are memories of that brief conversation and a wish to see each other again”. - The Soil

IinkomoComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Nazi iinkomo ebuhlanti / Kuvume nabaphantsi / Besithi eyi sani / Kutheni ungekamthathi / Ndathi yonk’int’irighti / Yena ungowami / Kodwa kukhona ingxaki / utata’khe akandifuni /

ndisahleli phantsi komthi / Yadlula yona leyontokazi / Ndiyaqonda ibiyokha amanzi / Phaya ezantsi e mlanjeni / Ndaphakama mna ndayilandela / Njengo clever wase Rhawutini ndasondela / Molo sana ndicela ukuhamba nawe / Elothutyana ndivumele ndithethe nawe / Ndiyi Ntsika yekhaya ikhaya lakwa Ngxanga / Ndiyi nkosi lonto ikwenza inkosazana yam / Bamb’isandla sam sthandwa sam / Uzakuba ngumama wabantwana bam / Ndiyazibuza umhle kangaka / Ukhetha mna amadoda engaka / Ndizakubiza utata wam nawe ubize utata wakho / Bahlale phantsi bobabini babonisane/

Samza ndiyoyika ndoyika umama no tata / Umama uzakundi krwitsha utata uzakundibetha athi ndiyajola / Ntsika ndiyoyika umama uzakundibetha/

Hayi andikaze mna ndiyibone / intombazane entle nje ngawe / Please ntombazane uzundimamele / Nditheth’inyani sthandwa undi charmile / Ebusuku sthandwa sam mna ndibonisiwe / Mna nawe baby sesitshatile / Please ntombazane uzundimamele / Nditheth’inyani sthandwa ndikuthandile.

“Iinkomo is a song that takes us back to our roots where a guy needs to pay Lobola in the form of cows. A guy loves a girl so much that he wants to marry her. But the girls’ father does not want the guy anywhere near his daughter and all the while he was using the cow issue as an excuse”. - The Soil

Girl I Love (I’m Lonely)Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Girl I love is gone and I’m all alone and I’m feeling by myself now / And even though I’m a little wack now but it’s alright but I’m lonely / I found that some things in life are a little hard / I found that sometimes in my life I’m lonely /

Don’t you leave me baby please / I will miss you everyday / And already it hurts so bad / Oh would you please come back home / If only you could see / How much I really love you sthandwa sam / I promise you, you would never ever leave me.

Impossible

Composed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Oh Lord it was impossible / But now I know it’s possible / So I wrote you this song / To prove my love to me / That we are meant to be /

First of all I’d like to say I really really love you girl / And second of all I’d like to say I’m really really sorry / ‘Cause I was all in your face / Never thought that I was invading your space / So I’m sorry / But I have to tell you this / You are the one that made do this / Tears just fall and my heart is very sore / So would you do me one favour / Just say yes to me / I know it’s hard but it’s possible.

They FellComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

I’ve been watching girl from a distance, from a distance / And I’ve been wondering girl, if I could have your number / But with my stuttering ggg..irl / I’m afraid I might blow my chances / So I chill and relax, relax and chill /

I don’t know about love at first sight but how do I explain what happened that night / We stood at a corner that had no street lights / Her angelic eyes where so bright / Next thing we were talking and laughing / Tightly holding and hugging, lip-locking and touching / Later in the week we were pushing and shoving / Is it flirting or loving, let me tell you something, I think we fell in love / They fell in love too fast…

BhombaComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Sitya amacala enkomo zabantu / Ngoba ndimncinci ndipunki ndingaka / Umubi ufana nengulube eb’sweni / Wahlahl‘amehlo, ngath’isele selitshayiswe imoto

Hayi Jakalashi uthand’into zabantu / Hayi jakalashi khawuyek’into zabantu.

Lonely NightsComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. MdolombaPublished by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Thinking of you and what I wanna do with you / I don’t know what to do I’m going crazy baby without you / Lonely nights I can’t describe the feeling of sleeping by myself / Would you be my honey baby....? / Without you in my life I’d go crazy / Ngaphandle kwakho uyazi soze ndiphile.

SedilakaComposed by: N. F. Ngxanga / L. Ngxanga / B. Mda / S. L. Mdolomba

Published by: The Soil Publishing Adm. By Active Music Publishing

Sedilaka mponisetse tsela ke tsamae / Holififi hape ho se baka ntsamaise / Ha Oleteng ha ke batle tsebo ya ntho tsohle.

“Sedilaka is one of the hymns sung by most congregations in South Africa. We are asking the Lord for guidance and to show us the light everywhere we go”. - The Soil

“Bhomba is a playful song which we grew up singing with the elders. Even up until today they refuse to tell us what it really means, or what it’s about. But we think it’s about a jackal proposing love to a rabbit. And the rabbit refuses telling the jackal that it’s just a tiny and innocent animal”. - The Soil

The Soil would like to thank God Almighty the Creator of heaven and earth. Thank you for choosing us as mediums of this wonderful music

which You have Blessed us with.

Thank you to the Ngxanga and Dubazana families for their love and support – and to our dad, for allowing us to fully follow our dream. Thanks to our mom (ma’ods) for her advice, warmth and prayers that carried us through stormy weather. To our brothers Andile and Sibulele for continuing to teach us to pay attention to detail every time we sing.

We thank the Mdolombas for their gracious presence in every way imaginable. Thank you to the Mdas, our brother, and beautiful sisters, for respecting our wishes

and dreams. Ma’Mpinga you are indeed a million in one - your existence completes us.

To the most precious and newest member of the movement, Chulu thank you for your presence which has brought a lot of blessings to our lives.

To all the beautiful souls that we’ve met throughout the years, people that have helped us get closer to our dream – we thank you!

To Sipho Nkosi, Clive Radebe, Portia Monama, Pearl Bengani, Tumi Molekane, Olebile Mocoancoeng, Mzwakhe Mbuli, Vincent Moloi, Neo and Kgomotso Matsunyane, Molemo Kalaka, Karabo Kgoleng.

We thank the fellow brothers and sisters in the art, and all organisations that inspired our growth over the last seven years.

Ree-burth Soweto’s finest, the Pulse Ink crew, viva Valia Theatre Production, Uvuko Poetry Movement, Student Life Council (VUT), FEmales, and Street Pop.

Thank you to our Sowetan and Vaal family. Apologies to whoever we may have left out - you are still very important to us.

We’d also like to thank all the friends we’ve met during this loooooooongggggggg journey, for everything they’ve done for us including our friends in all social networks that continue to support us.

We thank our management team at Native Rhythms Productions together with Sony Music for believing in us and for complimenting and enhancing our vision.

Last but not least – to our fans that we like to refer to as “The Soil Family” - Thanks for patiently waiting for this album and buying an original copy because if you are reading this it means you have it in front of you.

God Bless all of you and those around you. See you soon across all world stages.

Thank you. Yes You :-) The Soil

To all the beautiful souls that we’ve met throughout the years, people that have helped us get closer to our dream

we thank you!

All songs recorded and mixed by Mpho Hlahla @ Native Rhythms Studios, the song ‘JOY’ got further voice treatment @ Ian Osrin Studios. All songs produced by The Soil & Mpho Hlahla and Mastered by Rogan Kelsey @ Lapdust Studios. Excecutive Producer: Sipho Sithole.

Album Art by dreamstation & photography by Joey Khuvutlu.