There is a reason for being disdainful of prodigies, perhaps because it seems that as soon as their stars are burning bright in the firmament the light they give out burns out.
What are the chances that Port Elizabeth’s Afro-pop teenage group, New Afro Teens, will be an exception? There is no way to know, Âobviously, but on the strength of this album and their collaborations (Hugh Masekela is featured on two songs and American musician Puff Johnson on another), I am reasonably optimistic.
The aptly titled CD Siyazazisa (We are introducing ourselves) has 10 songs, half of them genuinely exciting.
I sat down with some of the band members on Friday last week, a few hours before their performance at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. The youngest band member, Cayla Jack, is 15 and the oldest, Zizipho Bekapi, is 19. All are still in high school.
How do you find time to make music, I ask them. “We all make time for the band because it’s something we love.”
Growing up
Why Afro-pop? “It’s what we like. There are not a lot of youngsters playing our kind of music,” says Cayla, whose brother, Themba, is the bandleader. The band practises twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays.
Will they change their name when they are not teenagers anymore? “We will cross that bridge when we get there,” Cayla says.
Naturally enough for teenagers, some of them are not sure whether they will pursue music when they are adults. But Thoba Goba, the band’s drummer, insists he has found his calling.
He has been playing drums since his primary school days and says even if he was to move away from the drum sets he will “always do something related to the music industry”.
The band is proud of its origins and Grant Allison, the band’s bassist, intends to study music production in Port Elizabeth. Keyboardist Litha Coleman wants to study drama and take flying lessons but “music will stay with me”.
The CD is infused with the joie de vivre and naivety you would expect of teenage musicians.
The title track, Siyazazisa, is the band’s best attempt at pop but is perhaps the weakest track. On it they announce their sound and the names of those in the band. The second track, It’s about Time, is shorn of vocals. On it Masekela soars above the sultry guitar sound in a tune that belies the youngsters’ age. Bayeza eMzantsi is a feel-good track celebrating the World Cup and the millions the event brought to our shores.
Marking out Masekela
Lalani, a dirge, opens with that piercing horn sound that has marked out Masekela. It mourns departed Âmusicians.
Then, midway through the CD, the Afro Teens refurbish Shuku @ shuku, an original South African standard that celebrates the mythical train ride (Mbombela) taken by migrants in days gone by. The lush and meditative Ndiyintombi is a stand-out track. The vocals of Spoki Mthengwana and Bekapi combine with the restrained trumpet sound of Xolani Moppie and Themba’s loopy guitar sound.
The track MaAfrika Ncedani is a pan-African melody celebrating the continent. The tune, In My Mind, featuring Johnson, is a mature, rock-infused song — something of a departure from the rest.
An album of this kind wouldn’t have been possible without some advanced production skills.
Producer Lawrence Matshiza’s skills are evident. He brings a sense of control to work that is youthful and vibrant.
Last weekend the youngsters looked so vulnerable amid the bustle of the Joy of Jazz that, by way of avuncular farewell, I felt it necessary to say: “Good luck and don’t do drugs.”
I don’t think they will need luck — when I saw them perform at Sophiatown they seemed assured and rocked the restaurant’s patrons. Besides, who needs luck when you are this good?