Zo Modiga ahead of the North Sea Jazz Festival – ‘The mission has always been to make music and tell a story’ – News24

Zo Modiga

@john.baloy/@zoemodiga/Instagram

After having been postponed due to the pandemic,the North Sea Fest Jazz Festival returns thisJuly 2022 in the Netherlands with South African Jazz musicianZo Modiga in the lineup.

Born and raised in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Zo describes herself as the quintessential artist who represents the present and future of South African music.

She says her music is inspired by her Creator and spirit guides, being an observer of people and experiences, having a deep love for African stories and the power of music to touch peoples core, she tells us.

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The KZN-born artist spoke to TRUELOVE about her upcoming gig that will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands and what impact she wants her music to have.

The North Sea Jazz Festival gig came about around the release of my sophomore album, Inganekwane in 2020. However, due to the pandemic, there were delays. Being able to see it materialise once more has been an emotional and exciting journey. The mission has always been to make music and tell a story that is to be heard and sung with people all over the world. Seeing that come to pass is a full-circle moment, she says.

On how her preparations are going for her performance at the jazz festival, Zo says, I have been preparing for my work and calling my entire life and so I receive all the opportunities that come along with that. To me the important thing is to channel the essence of what it is that I do already and welcoming people to walk into that trance with me.

She tells us that her audience can expect a celebration, a story and a peek into the modern African story, told from her perspective.

My shows are about us all collectively creating a world that is entirely our own and allowing music to help us channel what we require for that given moment. Whether that is dancing, singing, laughing, crying, healing, celebrating and so nothing will change in that, the musician says.

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Described as a Pan African activist, Zo thought it important to share her mostly afro-centric and spiritual music with the world and as a Black woman because her music speaks more to the soul than ones flesh or skin colour.

She says, Speaking to people of African descent is something that has felt like a calling to me for a while, part of heeding that call is knowing that I myself walk in that body and therefore there is a valuable perspective I have in that. I relate to people being spirit first so I think acknowledging that is honouring the next person. I also think, even if you dont look like me, or have my set of experiences, the music and the message is one that still welcomes you in and wants to resonate with you on a soul level. All of this is important to me.

Previously, the multi-award winner and songwriter has described her album Inganekwane as a love letter to Black bodies, especially in light of the femicide rates in our country, among other important matters. She cites the music she listened to, growing up, as being one of the reasons why she uses her music to talk about these issues.

Music to me, at least that which I grew up to and loved and continue to be moved by, reflects what is of the times. The past two years have been a reclaiming of space for people of colour and that should be documented. Whether through poems, articles, debates, artwork and especially song, she says.

When asked what she would like to be remembered for, by her fans, the musician says she would like to be remembered as a human being, a singer, songwriter, performer and storyteller that reflected the human experience and the times while being the soundtrack to people of all walks of live.

Id like to have been impactful and evoked and helped awaken the essence of people to themselves, she concludes.

Nduduzo Makhathini and Malcolm Jiyane will also be performing alongsideZo at the North Sea Jazz Festival. Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu and John Legend also feature on the line, among other notable artists.

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Zo Modiga ahead of the North Sea Jazz Festival - 'The mission has always been to make music and tell a story' - News24