- Babalwa M started music in the church and, initially, aimed to work in journalism.
- She describes the sounds of 'private school amapiano' as soft and versatile.
- The artist also has hit songs with Kelvin Momo, her partner of five years.
'Private school amapiano' might just have found its queen in Babalwa Mavuso, more popularly known as Babalwa M.
If the name isn’t ringing any bells, the dreamy vocals from the hit single Amalobolo with Kelvin Momo, Stixx and Nia Pearl as well as Babalwa’s debut album Aluta Continua that solidified her status as a true force among the women of amapiano will jog memories.
Babalwa’s signature smooth rhythms coupled with her light and airy vocals where she’s drawn inspiration from the likes of Erykah Badu and Thandiswa Mazwai "all unanimously agree that Babalwa M is the queen of private school amapiano". The Grammys agree.
Not to mention how her collaborations with acclaimed producer Kelvin Momo are born not only from their respective talents but also from their undeniable chemistry as a couple of five years.
Now that listeners have even more music from her to enjoy since the release of her latest EP called Pisces, Babalwa tells TRUELOVE all about her journey in music.
The simplicity of private school 'piano
Babalwa’s innate musical expertise comes out in her vibrant vocals and captivating narratives and with songs like Pholisa from the Pisces EP already creating quite the stir among amapiano fans, Babalwa describes her sound to us.
“I think it’s soft, it’s mellow, it has a bit of a jazzy sound. Ja, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s – okay, it’s piano but, yeah, the soft piano. And people would like to call it private school.”
Amapiano’s quintessential log drum beats and crescendo sounds throughout each track is what makes the genre so unique. But it is the soulful and calming introductions of jazz rhythms and R&B sounds that have spawned what is colloquially being referred to as private school 'piano.
Sharing how she interprets the term, Babalwa says, “I think the private sound is soft, it’s something you can listen to when you’re travelling, it’s something you can listen to when you’re having something at your place. It’s not something that you necessarily only have to listen to when you go out maybe to events. I think that’s just the difference between the piano that we do, the private piano … you can pretty much listen to our sound anywhere.”
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How it all began
Interestingly, as much as Babalwa has always had a talent for music ever since her humble beginnings growing up in the church, participating in the choir and in talent showcases during youth services, she initially had hopes of entering the media space through journalism.
She explains, “I was a pretty much a quiet child … I liked experimenting, as much as I was reserved, I liked doing a whole lot of different things. I used to do sports, I used to do quite a lot. So, obviously – because I lived in a Christian house – I obviously used to go to church. So, we used to have youth services and we’d have an opportunity to showcase your talents.
“Because at my house I think they wanted me to do music for the longest time but it wasn’t really something I thought I would be into because I studied journalism so that was like my thing. So, as much as I wanted to be in the media, I wanted to be behind the scenes … but, unfortunately, I never really got a chance to get like a proper job.”
For the love of music
For the past few years, it’s become a regular occurrence to see Babalwa M and Kelvin Momo’s pseudonyms together on many a smash hit from both of their solo projects.
And to the surprise of many locals, Babalwa M and Kelvin Momo’s collaboration don’t end at just music and is rooted in love.
On how their story began, Babalwa explains, “During Covid, I wasn’t working and then we actually started dating in 2019 so when Covid happened, we used to spend a lot of time together and I never really had anything to do. So, this other time, he was like ‘Hmm I have this beat but I need vocalist’ and I was like, ‘Hmm, you know I can try something’. So, ever since then, that’s where everything began.”
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Discovering that the birth of rich melodies in tracks like Babalwa’s Phendula and Kelvin Momo’s Sukakude is from their individual talents and their deeper relationship that requires no formula.
“I mean, we’re always together, we stay in the same house so if he has an idea and obviously, I’m always available to do something, we always try different things. I wouldn’t really say there’s a specific thing we do, I think it’s just how we feel at the certain moment then, ja,” Babalwa shares.
“When we’re in a happy mood or whatever, then we decide hm maybe let’s do something or if maybe we’re feeling down, we make music so it’s pretty much based on how we feel at that certain moment. I don’t think we have a specific thing that we do when we make music”
