About the album:
Greetings fellow humans. Almost all of us feel ties to the lands of our birth, and I’m no different. I was born in South Africa, a place where multiple musical energies exist in spiritual spaces, community get togethers, rituals, protests as well as dedicated performances.

As South Africa nears its 30 years of democracy we are faced with a myriad of challenges, but we are resilient. The tracks on ENHLIZWENI are a creative offering of how South Africa has shaped, and continues to shape my personal, and our collective stories.

Music in this country is most often a communal edeavour. I hope “ENHLIZWENI – song stories from my heartland” can in some way contribute, in the words of freedom fighter Steve Biko, to “the great gift (that) still has to come from Africa – giving the world a more human face”. – Steve Dyer

For track by track description as in liner notes see here:

Heartland
Pietermaritzburg-emGungundlovu in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa is where I was born. My memories are steeped in growing up in the Dyer household, the rolling green hills of the KZN Midlands, the deep blue sea of the Durban coastline, the stunning Zulu choral singing, the maskandi musician troubadours, the indlamu dancers, and the heart of mbaqanga music with its swirling organ, syrup thick bass lines and tight vocal harmonies.


Kindred Spirits
The relationships that are formed between musicians in the South African “Jazz” tradition are unlike no other. There is a special bond. This track was recorded live in studio, and what happened to the arrangement in this take landed in the spontaneous and unrehearsed, and is all the more special for that.


TransAtlantic
We have always been influenced by the great U.S.A. artists to varying degrees. While I have always started from a standpoint of African inflection and rhythm, and not the other way around, these influences have enhanced my composition and approach. It is gratifying that the transatlantic musical synergy is taking on more equilibrium, and more of what this part of the world has to offer the relationship in this modern era.


Inyembezi means tears in isiZulu. This is a call to the Higher power not to forget all of us. The world is often a rough place to survive in, and is full of tears.


Ihlasele
Many of the dreams that we were fighting for in the war against apartheid have not been realised. Human frailties of greed, corruption and maladministration have crippled many aspects of life in South Africa. However, we are resilient. This track says that we push ahead, no matter the challenges. Mayihlome ihlasele is a term from the struggle against apartheid days. “Arm yourselves to attack”. This is a softer and more reflective “attack”, realising there is no quick fix.


Barren soil (land without opportunity)
The issue of land is an emotive one, particularly in South Africa. Many are homeless in the land of plenty, in the land of their ancestors. For me land is barren soil unless it is accompanied by opportunities for growth, progress and survival.


Falling trees in the forest
Many former musical mentors and other creatives and close family relatives have lost their lives, often unexpectedly, in the recent past. This track is a marabi influenced tribute to these fallen spirits.


Phola
It always strikes me how there is still so much laughter and positive collective living across most sections of South African society on a daily basis, whatever the difficulties. Phola reflects some of our unique sounds that brings people together.


Uyivile
One morning I was feeling low. I sat at the piano and this piece came to me as a prayer. Uyivile imithandazo – my prayer was heard through the music.


Senzeni na?
South African struggle songs have often been adapted through history to fit certain situations. Many church songs were adapted in the umzabalazo (struggle). Where appropriate, words would change due to changing circumstances.

Senzeni na (what have we done) was a song that, beautiful as it is, gathered much criticism as being too passive and not militant enough. The original words were Senzeni na, what have we done, as our only sin was the colour of our skin.

This version is an adaptation:
Amaphupho a phelile (the dreams are finished)
Yehla Moya o khanyise (Come down spirit, light the way)
Senzeni na? – What have we done? - referring to what have we as a society done since freedom day dawned in South Africa.