South African Afro-Soul artist Samthing Soweto joined Nandi Madida via FaceTime on Apple Music 1 to talk about his single “Ama Get Down”. He also discussed his 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. 

Here’s how the interview went down!

Samthing Soweto tells Apple Music about weight loss journey

SAMTHING SOWETO: 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’

SAMTHING SOWETO: 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’

SAMTHING SOWETO: 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

SAMTHING SOWETO: 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.

Source(s): Interview supplied