In February 2020, Gazelle travelled back to South Africa from his new home to record a Gazelle comeback album with the working title of From Limpopo with Love and then got stranded for a year.
During this time, he dug deep into his roots and started creating with new inspirations to create the return of Gazelle.
A recent comeback collaboration with Bouwer Bosch and Freddy L with “Liefde Love Uthando” has brought his voice back to the radio waves with a powerful remembrance of his previous cross-cultural creations. Another single with Columbian producer Sinego was recently released through the label, “Selected”, in late 2020 and received more than a million plays in the first weeks on Spotify.
The first single from his upcoming album is titled “Goeiemore Suid Afrika”, for which he teamed up with Die Heuwels Fantasties. The song is reminiscent of an ‘80s television show theme hit song that brings together a sound of nostalgia and lyrics that captures the meaning of the word ‘irony’ in Afrikaans, “‘n lag met ‘n traan”, which means, laughter with a tear.
It is a reflection on the opposites that makes up a beautiful and abundant country.
One thing is certain, Gazelle is back. With new upcoming songs, artworks and collaborations with the likes of Jack Parow, Penny Penny and Nonku Phiri.
I caught up with Gazelle last week.
The new roaring ‘20s? Perhaps the same level of lust for life but hopefully with more thoughtful approaches on creating positive social and environmental impact.
Taking responsibility for having a public voice and asking what positive impact we can make with that gift. Otherwise, there is no flame in that fame.
Only in the moments of rest between a constant creation into eternity.
Watermelon.
A tool and ritual to connect to our greater collective being as humans.
Creating a future culture that we can all belong to and feel a part of.
Tresor
I get lost in the beauty of nature. The bush, a mountain, a waterfall, the ocean, a forest. They all unveil the greatest teachings to me.
To dream up things that might be absurd and then witness the final creations and connecting with the wonderful collaborators on a very deep level.
“Die Verlore Seun” or “Hosh Tokolosh”.
I remember doing a jumping split that left me with a dress instead of a pair of pants after a ripping moment.
Johnny Clegg, James Brown, Bob Marley, Fela Kuti.
Must be my friend Adrien Sauvage.
At this moment in time, I would have to say my MacBook since it is at the core of so much of my creation.
I love mezcal and recently discovered Karoo Agave Spirit, which is South Africa's equivalent. But hey sometimes brandy and Coke!
Definitely Red Rocks Amphitheater, but after living all these years in New York I would have to say it’s a dream to play Carnegie Hall.
I believe it is that I have always stepped out of my comfort zone. I wanted to celebrate what it is to be South African when all the rappers wanted to be American.
When I was very little it was Makhanda, because people on the farm said I was like an old man with a big head.
Would have loved to explore theatre or film. But perhaps something completely different would be, to design buildings. I love architecture and design.
Boyd Holbrook because he's one of my best friends and probably knows all of my best stories.
Persistent, passionate, considerate, daring, ambitious.
Kala Harari Rock by Harari
Third World Child by Johnny Clegg and the Savuka
Niemandsland by Koos Kombuis
Cape of Good Dope by Various Artists
Graceland by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Paul Simon (because it's actually an SA album!)
“Daddy Cool” by Boney M.
New York, she's quite a gal.
Hello.
Must be my hats that Albertus Swanepoel makes.
Hiekomkak - Here comes trouble.
Go to space and experience zero gravity.
Performing in the Bowery Ballroom in New York.
Value creation for oneself, others and the environment we live in.
Forget my lines but also forget all the worries of the world.
Cheetah Plains.
I do not believe in charity; I believe we need to empower constantly and not in moments purely just give away something for our own relief of guilt but rather constantly see how we can make the world a better place. During this pandemic, I jumped in to support a local organisation called Hlokomela in the Hoedspruit area that works to support farmworkers with free healthcare and having my family in agriculture this was the immediate help I could offer in my immediate environment.
That South Africa’s future is bright with each individual realising their own potential and breaking through to fulfil their dreams and a wholesome flourishing country. That corruption, greed and entitlement are dissolved and people build a new culture that includes everyone. For people to get to know and understand each other and realising that we are interconnected, valuable to each other and all from the same source.