Online music residencies are a new frontier for many of the world’s talented emerging artists. The opportunity to have meaningful conversations about music culture is now an online content staple. A new artist discovery tool for some, Mahogany Sessions’ 13-year tenure celebrates the intimate bond of live music sessions. Bongeziwe Mabandla’s debut performance in one of Mahogany’s “most insane locations so far” resonates with music’s power to travel far.
The Mahogany Sessions share a gorgeous session with Bongeziwe Mabandla in an ice cave high in the Swiss Alps. Consequently, Mabandla and the crew were flown in a mountain rescue helicopter to the cave. Surrounded by ice, he performed a delicate version of “noba bangathini” from his album amaXesha. Bongeziwe’s fusion of modern sounds with his native Xhosa folk music is an exciting addition to Mahogany Sessions’ rhythm. Although far away from the Karoo summer conditions he grew up in, Bongeziwe keeps his cool throughout.
“It was minus 15 degrees when the helicopter put us in the deep snow on the mountain,” he said about the Swiss Alps’ harsh conditions. Every year, artists gather in the Swiss town of Zermatt to perform in the high-altitude ski town. At the foot of the iconic Matterhorn mountain, Zermatt Unplugged hosts a winter music festival in April. Additionally, the festival hosted acts like Lionel Richie and Nelly Furtado and could become a home for Bongeziwe’s alternative/indie sound.
The Matterhorn’s scenery, combined with high-quality acoustic music, makes it one of the most unique festival locations and experiences in Europe. As the demand grows for diverse, intimate music experiences, we can expect to see all kinds of music travel to uncharted territories. “Playing in that ice cave was an unforgettable experience, and I think it added a really unique dimension to ‘noba bangathini,’” Bongeziwe said about his performance. Despite the intense conditions, he delivered an unforgettable rendition of Noba Bangathini, which Mahogany deems legendary.
In case you missed it, watch Bongeziwe Mabandla’s Mahogany Session below:
Also, his album, amaXesha, is available now on all streaming platforms.
