The Listening Room: The Sound and the Word 002

Mamosetse’s ongoing series returns for its second edition. In the Listening Room, we invite a few of our collaborators, friends, and like-minded individuals who enjoy losing themselves in the textured journeys that music invites us on. Here, they each curate a special playlist and share what the songs represent for them, so that on their journeys, they can take our readers along.

— Moso Sematlane (Writer, Editor, Filmmaker)

For me, music is a form of belonging. It answered a question that was nagging in my mind long before I was aware of it: where do I belong?

I have always been attracted to creative spaces; the authority, expression, and resourcefulness from people in this space always fascinated me. But, I never found my place here. For a while, I felt like I was floating. “Too much of this, not enough of that.” The enthusiasm and energy have always been there but I just never knew how to organise it, and my thoughts. This led me to code-switch. I learned how to put masks on and off depending on the space I was in.

I grew older and music, visuals, and atmosphere (or moods, depending on how you describe it) became more eloquent forms of expression to me than words could ever be. At the same time, I was searching for God. Not in the traditional sense of going to church, but in the feeling of knowing what it is like to find meaning, purpose, and rooting. This has never been a straightforward experience for me. I struggled with it, and I still do. But somewhere, somehow, I realised that when I am immersed in music and sounds, I feel something close to faith. It is like a quiet sense of strength, belonging, and certainty that I am where I am supposed to be.

So, ‘Soundscapes’ is where these dots connect. It is not just a DJ project. It’s a storytelling platform where sound and visuals are the narrative. We use these tools to create environments, and evoke emotional reactions. Each set we put together is intentional, each song is a sentence, and each visual is an illustration. We are in the business of building journeys and a sonic archive.

Last year, I had the privilege of visiting Prague. That trip changed me in ways I did not expect. It reinforced my belief (one that I never trusted) that the world is huge, layered, nuanced, and waiting for me. That experience planted a deep desire inside me to travel, to let my work move beyond borders, and find its home in different parts of this world.

This playlist comes from that place. It is characterised by movement, longing for something you don’t know, stillness, and that fire burning within to do more. It exemplifies the tension and release in searching and finding, isolation and connection. The sounds here spoke for me when I didn’t have the language to explain myself, what I want, and how I feel. They felt natural when expression felt forced.

I have always known from a very early age that I am different. In fact, I think we all are. I have always struggled with where I fit. But music and ‘Soundscapes’ have always felt honest, and they feel like I am standing in my truth without having to justify it to anyone.

With this playlist and project, I want to say to you who is reading this that belonging is possible. There is a place in this world that NEEDS YOU. You will not always find it in buildings, labels, or answers. Sometimes it is in that moment of resonance where barriers fall away. Please keep the courage to keep looking. When it clicks, you will know. Enjoy the playlist.  

—Teboho Mokonyana (Sonic Storyteller, Cultural Worker, DJ, Educator, founder of’Soundscapes)

1.     Chance Not Choice – BRS

2.     Lion (Stimming Remix) – HVOB

3.     Mount Zion (Jonathan Kaspar Remix) – Culoe De Song

4.     Sensa (Manoo Remix) – Lilya Mandre, Zac Martel

5.     Tidal Waves – Wapo Jije

6.     Be (Herbert’s Truth Dub) – Kid Fonque, Zaki Ibrahim

7.     What To Do (&ME Remix) – Guy Gerber

8.     The Rapture (Pt. II) - &ME

9.     Thoughts (K.G. Sunset Remix) – Nutty Nys

10.   Love Reigns (VIP) – Mall Grab

 Searching for a Soundscape Playlist

This is basically my slightly chaotic music taste in song form. No one genre, just tracks that always make me feel good. These are the ones I throw on during the drive to work, singing way too loud in the car and fully unbothered if anyone at the traffic light notices. Perfect for morning commutes, midweek pick-me-ups, and getting through another day of emails, meetings, and ‘adding value’.

— Thato Mathule (Daughter, Friend, Banking Professional, Leader)

1. Ice Age - Don Toliver and Travis Scott

2. Gold Buddha - Elujay ft. Foggieraw

3. On my Mama - Vicoria Monet

4. Come and Get Me - Iman Europe

5. Forget me Nots - Patrice Rushen

6. We are the People - Empire of the Sun

7. Dracula - Tame Impala

8. Wake me Up - The Weekend

9. Too Late - Washed Out

10. The Emptiness Machine - Linkin Park

 No Skips, Just Vibes Playlist

It’s all in the words. People are always saying exactly how they feel, we just tend to hear what we want. Most of the time, we listen partially. With music, it often takes two or three listens before we really hear what’s being said. Case in point; the collective realisation that many of our favourite R&B songs were…just about sex. But that’s neither here nor there.

Words are a love language. And music expresses that language beautifully.

Being asked to share music suddenly feels different. I catch myself wanting to share songs people might like, songs that feel safe, impressive, or familiar. I’m not sure what this instinct is called, but I know it well. At the same time, there’s resistance. I don’t want to be ‘figured out’; especially with that saying lingering in the background, ‘You can tell so much about a person by the music they listen to’.

The songs in this playlist are ones I had to sit with. Songs that revealed something new each time I listened, where words shifted, softened, or deepened, depending on where I was when I heard them. That unfolding is what made them beautiful to me. So, if you can, listen. Really listen.

Compiling it has made me unexpectedly anxious. Maybe because listening, truly listening, is intimate. And sharing what moves you always is.

— Limpho ‘Tasha’ Thoahlane (Writer, Artist, Climate Activist)

1. Bloom - Doechii

2. Alive - Sia

3. Man at the Garden - Kendrick Lamar

4. Love Yours - J.Cole

5. Don’t - Bryson Tiller

6. Loveeeeeee Song - Rihanna

7. Fire for You - Cannons

8. Lucid Dreamer - Naomi Sharon

9. Let Alone The One You Love - Olivia Dean

10. Tidal Wave - Tom Misch, Youssef Dayes

 Between The First and Third Listen Playlist

Finally, I figured out my style (I think): clean, really sharp, almost perfect, editorial, sci-fi-esque futuristic images. The clearer the better (I draw the line at AI). This revelation coincided with discovering my love for music with synth sounds. These are the type of songs I wish I could shoot music videos for. These are the type of songs that make me see the types of films I want to shoot. These are the type of sounds the (aspiring) composer in me wants to make. Some of these songs are old, though I feel like they will stay relevant because they sound like tomorrow. These are (really) cool songs that make me think of a future ruled by cool punk rebel people draped in so much jewellery, where cameras are as good as the eye can see, especially in low light.

— Karolo Monare (Filmmaker, Visual Artist)

1. IGOR’S THEME - Tyler, The Creator

2. Ace Trumpets - Clipse, Pusha T, Malice

3. Mantlapa en Litsiroane - Jumping Back Slash, Morena Leraba

4. NEW MAGIC WAND - Tyler, The Creator

5. On Sight - Kanye West

6. Pros Unie - TrapFunk & Alivio, Morena Leraba, Lunik Grio

7. EARFQUAKE - Tyler, The Creator

8. Noize - Jaden, Tyler, The Creator

9. About You - XXYYXX

 SYNTH: SOUNDS LIKE FOREVER Playlist