MOSSEL BAY NEWS - As someone who has always had a deep connection to music, Siyabulela Magoqwane (21) says his love of creating his own music stems from being able to be himself throughout the process, as well as from the Mossel Bay environment in which he grew up.
"I'm not trying to sound or be like anybody else. I like experimenting, sampling different sounds and putting my own perspective into the music," he says.
Known professionally as NoSaint, Magoqwane is a music artist, producer and songwriter born and raised in Mossel Bay. He credits his creative process to his Xhosa identity and his unique way of telling the stories he wants to tell.
Self-expression
He began making music to express himself in a way he could not always do with words, and wanted to create something others could relate to. "It wasn't just a hobby anymore. It became something I genuinely wanted to build my life around," he says.
After making music for a few years, Magoqwane released his debut EP on Saturday 12 September. An EP is an 'extended play' format of music that features more than one song, but not enough to be considered an album.
Always learning
Despite having practised music for quite some time already, Magoqwane says he is still learning every day. "There's honestly no point where you can say you've completely mastered it.
I've had moments when I felt like giving up, especially when the support wasn't there or when things weren't moving as quickly as I wanted.
I've also dealt with creative blocks and doubting myself at times. But every time I wanted to stop, something reminded me why I started in the first place. That kept me going," he says.
'Don't wait'
His advice for others wanting to venture into music is simple: Don't wait, just start. "You're going to make mistakes, you're going to doubt yourself, and there will be times when it feels like nobody notices what you're doing. Keep going anyway.
Don't compare your journey with somebody else's, because everyone moves at their own pace."
His advice not only applies to people the same age or younger than him. If you are older, he says, it is not too late to start.
"Your age does not determine your creativity. Start with what you have, learn as you go, and most importantly, believe in your own work before expecting anybody else to believe in it."
Siyabulela's EP, titled Uthando Nezono, features two songs, "Nyan Nyan" and "Isiphelo", and is available on Spotify and Apple Music.
Nominate our next creative
Would you like to nominate someone for this weekly feature? It could be anyone in the Mossel Bay area you believe is a creative in our community. Send your nomination to [email protected] or WhatsApp it to 072 599 8533.
Please include the following: the name of the person you are nominating, the reason for the nomination, your contact details, and the nominee's contact details. Who knows - your local artist might be featured in our next 'Creatives' Corner/Kreatiewe Hoekie'!
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