Mpho Interview

We arrive at Stealth just in time to interview Mpho (her name means gift in Zulu by the way), the voice behind the instantly recognisable tone of “Booty La La” by Bugz in the Attic, and supporting work for the likes of Natasha Bedingfield and Terri Walker. We’ve had a very good look around at her work, with one of our own Jitty editors being something of a fan, and to say her work is impressive and substantial is an understatement. She is a massive talent who is finally getting some individual recognition.

James: So obvious first question, the tour, how’s it going so far?

Mpho: It’s actually going really really well, it did start off, being the first tour with a couple of tecnical bits needing to be ironed out in the first few nights. It has though come very well together, getting good responses from the audiences, so yes, going well!

James: Any particular highlights?

Mpho: Hmmm, of the actual tour?

James: Yup

Mpho: Oxford was really good, got a great response, it was packed, sold out. Normally as a support, even if it’s sold out, some of the audience don’t get there for the start, so you might only have half of them, but at Oxford it was a full venue. Loved the responses, lots of Twitter action the next day!

James: Really? I thought you were a techno phobe!

Mpho: mmm yes I am a bit *laughs*

James: I heard you had a flip cam that you’re still trying to work out. Have you got that sorted out?

Mpho: *laughing* I have but do you know what I did? I left it at home when I went back for my day off! I’m just the worst person for cameras and all of that, I just kind of get on with things without them but I guess I’m going to have to try and put that right!

James: So you’re getting better at it.

Mpho: Yes I am!

James: I saw that you had signed to Parlophone, and that you had your first photo shoot. Now you’ve been a backing singer for a little while, so was this all a bit new, a bit of shock, or is it all just a days work?

Mpho: It kind of comes in phases of both! I get days where I think, “This is my job, what have I got to do?”, trying to sort out what I need to get done and it not being a huge a deal. Taking each bit at a time. And then there are times like when I did the first photo shoot and walked into the studio. I was expecting to just go in, do the shoot, no real big issue, but it’s when I looked around at the studio and how big and beautiful it was compared to smaller studios. I was like *sharp intake of breathe* “ok this can’t be happening”, and it went well, got some good shots out of it, very happy!

James: You’ve done some great work, some high profile pieces, so what for you have been the highlights of the career, those “yes” moments?

Mpho: Wow, mm, that’s really hard to answer! I guess I’ve just taken every day as it comes. You know what, I think the real “yes” moment wasn’t that long ago, it was when Jimmy Douglass agreed to mix the records I was like *screams*, I screamed, I ran around my managers house screaming, I had to apologise to her mum afterwards! It was “sorry”, but at the same time I was really excited, he’s one of my favourite music engineers in the world, I love his work. We really didn’t think he would say yes, and we called up and it was “please, can you just listen to my music and if you like it just consider it and”, and he said “I love the record and I’d love to work on it” and he actually ended up co-producing one of the songs, the second single so it was brilliant, he’s a great guy.

James: Musically does he push you?

Mpho: Mix wise, well we went to him towards the end so there wasn’t a lot in there but I was really glad we started that relationship, and the next record I really want to start working with him earlier in the process.

James: We were wondering if you get nerves before any of your gigs too?

Mpho: You know, I don’t actually get very nervous. If I do it lasts maybe two or three minutes. I breathe it out and I think "ok", then it’s gone, I only get nerves if it’s really small audiences but more especially if it’s a small audience of very important people, at that point it’s “oh my…”, but in general I just like communicating with people, and it’s my opportunity to do that. I might get a bit of an adrenaline rush more then nerves.

James: Do you have any rituals that you do before a gig?

Mpho: I take some quiet time to just get me focused, make sure I have a warm drink, warm up, pretty standard things, and take time out to say thank you before I go on. Just to kind of say thank for being in this position, and it’s great to be here so I just want to acknowledge that.

James: So, you’re down for Glastonbury!

Mpho: YES!! I didn’t think I was going to get it!

James: Have you been there as part of the audience?

Mpho: No, never been there as part of the audience, but have been there before on stage.

James: So you’re all set for the atmosphere then!

Mpho: Oh yes, I’m looking forward to the atmosphere, it’s just the mud! It gets a bit scary. I was just trying to work out where I could get the most high fashion out there wellies. I think I might go for butchers, you know, knee high.

James: What about the obligatory hat?

Mpho: You mean those joker type things?

James: That would be them yes!

Mpho: oh no no, I have hair!

James: Are you working right up to Glastonbury?

Mpho: Pretty busy right up to it, we’ve got some other London dates before, and just generally busy with the promo stuff so…busy busy.

James: So are you hoping to stay on and enjoy the atmosphere?

Mpho: It depends what else is going on, but I would like to stay for a while, but at the moment I’m not sure because of the performances we’re doing, there is a possibility we could be there for two nights, doing to two sets.

James: I had heard that, on different stages.

Mpho: That’s right, yes. One would be the lounge, one would be the dance tent, I want to stay and hang out, last time I did that it was fun and enjoyed it, but I don’t want to have to stay the night!

James: Festival gig, tour gig, are you going to approach the gig at Glastonbury any different?

Mpho: No, I just do what I do wherever I go. I guess, to a degree it adapts according to the size of the venue, or what I’ve got on stage with me, but I don’t purposefully really make changes. It’s a bit like a conversation really, it can go either way, depends on the responses you get but I’m really excited.

James: On a different subject, "Dubplate Drama" and "Spit It Out", young people have a difficult time being heard, why did you get involved?

Mpho: For me it’s really important that young people be heard, and a lot of my music talks from experience. I’m not a teenager but I have been there and I know what it feels like and how difficult it is, even as an adult, to really be able to express yourself and what you’re feeling in the context of all of the pressures going on and I can just see how much more difficult it is for young people at the moment. You have the economic climate, the heightened peer group pressures that exist, and then there’s so much going on in the world that would concern you and you have access to all of that information about what’s happening. I think years ago children were more naïve as they grew up, and had time to form their own ideas, opinions, make plans, but now everything just seems to hit them in rapid succession. Anything you want to know, anything you don’t want to know, you can find on the Internet, by mistake. I just think it’s important that young people have an outlet to really say what they really feel as opposed to just having to say what they think everybody wants them to say and what they think everybody wants to hear. You know if you get me talking on this sort of thing I’m going to be here for hours!!

At that point we reached the end of our interview, which was a shame really because in all honestly she was a joy to interview, friendly, talkative, knowledgeable and there were a whole host of questions we wanted to ask about her music. Sadly we didn't have a whole day with her but we certainly wish her every success.

http://www.myspace.com/mphosounds 

We would like to thank Holly and Warren at Chuff, and of course Magda at “Stealth” who dug around for our photo passes, and most importantly Mpho!