- Soweto Gospel Choir has released two singles from their upcoming project History of House.
- The album, in collaboration with Australian DJ, reworks local house classics.
- Mary Mulovhedzi has been in the choir for 21 years and contributes to the costume design and choreography.
- She says that History of House is a dance album that will speak to all generations.
Fusing the sweet sounds of local house music with their quintessential uplifting gospel is the latest offering from Grammy Award-winning group Soweto Gospel Choir.
The group, working with Australian musician Simon Lewicki who goes by DJ Groove Terminator and platinum-selling producer Dennis ‘Latroit’ White, has released two singles from their upcoming project History of House that rework house classic and embody the positivity of iconic dance music with elements of South African culture.
The lead singles Good Life and Everybody’s Free – the latter of which debuted on 12 April 2024 exclusively on the Grammy website – showcase the unique iterations of gqom, electronic, downtempo tech and deep house tunes with homegrown lyrics.
“South Africa is recognised as one of the prime countries for music in general, especially house music,” says choir member, choreographer and costume design contributor Mary Mulovhedzi.
“We have seen the evolution of house music into what we know today as amapiano. I personally still love old-school house music and being part of History of House with Groove Terminator is like living my childhood again. Good Life is sung in our language, isiZulu, and that just adds more flavour to my joy.”
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Mary gave TRUELOVE some insight into visually and sonically bringing to life this unique offering.
Fusing house and gospel
Being a part of the 17-member choir for the past 21 years, Mary has travelled the world and basked in the glory of the choirs many accomplishments including winning Australia’s prestigious performing arts award in 2003, performing for elites like the late archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, King Charles and more.
But being a part of this new age project that is History of House is what she loves the most about breathing life into South Africa’s unique classics.
“It’s a kind of way of us telling the story in a different way just because these are the songs that we grew up, of course, listening to. So, redoing those songs will make you feel as if like you are retelling that story that we were telling. So, I’m happy to be part of it,” Mary shares.
Revitalising choreography and costume
Mary’s contribution to the choir doesn’t end with her vocal abilities. Contributing to the choreography and costume design helps bring to life the messages of the songs they perform.
Currently, for the album, the costume design is still in the works. She says, “We’re planning to create the costume that will work for this generation and telling the story of gospel so we’re busy on that.”
The choir is currently in Australia performing from the released singles from History of House and from their last body of work titled Hope. Mary explains just how Mzansi’s diverse cultures influence the choreography and costume design.
“With the costume part, I think it depends on the show that we’re doing. Let’s say right now we’re doing Hope. So, with Hope I decided okay, giving back that hope, I’m trying to showcase that there’s these traditions that no one knows about it out there like Venda, the Pedis.
“That tradition no one knows about it. We know Xhosa and Zulu tribes - everyone knows about it. So, we decided okay, you know what, let’s showcase the other side of South Africa that people do not even realise it does exist.”
When it comes to choreography, they channel the meanings of the latest singles to create a unique and fun routine reminiscent of the project’s dance club nature.
“With Groove Terminator, like with History of House, that’s dancing. That’s all about you being in the club because that’s the only time we realise that, oh my gosh, we’re in the club because usually we’re in church! So, [it’s] the only time we’re in the club, that’s when we’re doing HoH,” Mary explains.
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Music that transcends borders and generations
It’s no chump change being a part of this legendary gospel group almost since its inception in 200 and now she gets to be a part of a project that brings a new age vibe to Mzansi’s house classics.
“This album, I think, it’s for everyone,” Mary tells us. “The younger ones, the older ones. Just because the older ones definitely they will be reminding themselves of olden days. For the younger ones, of course just because we’re listening to our parents playing those songs, you go, ‘Oh, this is the song that my mom used to listen to or my dad’. That’s going to be great. We’re recreating that history.”
What Mary loves the most about being in the choir is being able to share our rich history and current traditions with the rest of the world.
