AN EPIC Q&A WITH THE MEGA TALENTED ALEK BLAK

Writing songs from 13-years-old, Alek Blak knew that picking up a guitar would change his world and ours.

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Self-taught singer-songwriter Alek Blak (full name Yamkela Mdaka) is celebrated across the country for touching hearts through his neo-soul style, unique vocals and lyricism. Hailing from Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, Blak moved to Johannesburg nine years ago to pursue music full-time, and obtain his Journalism degree.

Since then, he has released two singles titled ‘New Day’ and ‘Luna’, and recently shared his debut EP Moment, exhibiting an indie-pop influence, with entrancing instrumentals and earnest vocals.

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR EP?
I started working on the EP in January 2022, about three months after my stepfather passed away from a rare cancer. I think processing his passing, and its suddenness, and looking back at the anguish and uncertainty we experienced as a community gave me an almost insatiable yearning to live life fully and fearlessly – something I don’t necessarily think I’ve mastered. That’s really what the EP is about. It’s about trying to live boldly and step out of doubt. It’s about recognising your light and leaning into it every day.

WHAT ARE THE PERSONAL MEANINGS BEHIND THE SONGS?
Interestingly, I wrote ‘The Other Side’ (the second track on the EP) about two hours before I was going into the studio to record it. The music had originally been marked for a different song that I’d recorded about 3–4 times over the years, but when I got up that morning, I knew I wanted to say something different, and I didn’t want to postpone the session, so I wrote a new song. Fast forward to now, I think ‘The Other Side’ is the anchor of the EP – which I almost titled The Other Side – but ‘Moment’ is really the song that ties the whole project together.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR MUSIC OFFERS TO LISTENERS?
I hope the music can offer them replenishment and inspire boldness in their lives. I hope that in moments of doubt and confusion the music can become an adopted mantra that helps people stand up to face another day. I hope it can inspire people to dust off the dreams they set aside and pursue them, to live a life that feels fulfilling and full.

WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS AS AN ARTIST?
I am looking forward to growing as a musician, exploring different languages and sounds. I also want to do a lot more collaborations with South African artists; I’ve always wanted to collaborate with artists like Sun El Musician, Ami Faku, Samthing Soweto, Amanda Black,

Kelvin Momo, Kabza de Small etc. More than anything, I’m looking forward to making more music and connecting with different people through it.

By Sello Ramosepele