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South African Afro-Soul artist Samthing Soweto joins Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his latest single “Ama Get Down”. He also discusses his new album ‘Touch Is A Move (Good Morning)’, how he was inspired to include audio drama on his album, his song “Deda”, and his weight loss journey.
This Week’s Hottest New Tracks
Nandi Madida shares the hottest new African tracks of the moment. This week’s selection includes new tracks from Tyla, Burna Boy feat. Shaboozey, Gyakie, DJ Stokie, Sminofu, Z_nhle, Mkeyz and KiDi, Olivetheboy & KOJO BLAK.
Tune in and listen to the full episode this Friday, July 11th at 9a Lagos/London / 10a Johannesburg/Paris / 1a LA / 4a NYC on Apple Music 1 at apple.co/_AfricaNow and broadcast on Cool FM in YFM Accra every Sunday at 2pm, YFM Kumasi on Saturdays at 3pm and YFM Takoradi on Saturdays at 6pm.
Samthing Soweto tells Apple Music about weight loss journey
I didn’t think people noticed me speaking about weight loss, but people started seeing the results. There were rumours about me being sick and it became such a big thing that I had to address it. Like, “Yo, I’m not really sick”. It was just a personal thing. I just got tired of looking at myself and it not matching my mental image of myself in the mirror – but I didn’t want to really talk about exactly what I was doing because I understand that everyone has a personal journey towards working out and self-help.
Samthing Soweto tells Apple Music about the title ‘Touch is a Move’
When we were growing up, we were playing board games and card games. Most of the time, whenever it was your move, you were advised not to touch any of the pieces or the cards because if you ever made that play, you can’t un-play it. You have to just stick with it. So that’s where it comes from. I quit maybe four times making this album, and then I finally got it done in 2025. I remember when we were encountering issues with the album and production – and the person that I used to work with at the time constantly said to me, “this music thing is kind of weird”. It almost feels like “Touch is a move” in the sense that if we try to work on it, things just go wrong. So that’s the spirit of the songs. It’s really about, yo, you chose this path, no matter what, let’s see if we can finish it. I had to start and then finish – and I’m so happy, I’m relieved.
Samthing Soweto tells Apple Music about the song ‘Deda’
There’s a saying “Let the darkness subside and let the lights come in”. That was the first thinking behind this song. The lyrics came before the actual production. It was just a feeling, as I had a religious sister who has passed now but when she was still with us, she used to be very religious and she used to love that term. Then there was a point where I kept hearing that phrase a few years ago – I kept hearing it on TV and on popular songs and I started thinking about that concept again – that feeling you have when you are sitting at home by yourself or with the family, your partner and you think “I wonder what they’re doing?” I couldn’t have done the song justice without John Lundun’s production. He’s such an amazing producer.
Samthing Soweto tells Apple Music how he was inspired to include audio drama on his album
I tried to tell a bit of a personal story and to speak about just a day in my life as a kid. I got some help from Mpumi Ngidi. I met her in 2019. I was doing a radio tour and she was still part of the radio drama department. Ukhozi FM is the biggest radio station in South Africa and they broadcast mainly in Zulu and she was a producer for the dramas. Those things are so popular on the radio, It’s crazy. They’re based on books, Zulu literature, and novels which they dramatize on the radio. It’s amazing. It’s an old school thing really, but it’s still very popular in this country. In 2019, and I said to her, “yeah, when I do my next album, I’m going to come look for you!” And in 2024, I got in contact and told her the story of my life and she dramatized it and helped me with the interludes on the album. She did an amazing job and it all came out nicely.