On Friday 13 October, Acapella trio The Soil is set to release their project, Re-Imagined, with their new member Theo Matshoba. The last album they dropped was in 2016. With this project, they are unapologetically gunning for a Grammy award. Their features and style have been well thought out, which could qualify them of the international stage.

NEW BEGINNINGS

At an intimate listening session, exclusive to media and close friends, Native Rhythms and Universal revealed three songs from the upcoming album. Group members, Phindo "Master P" Ngxanga and Ntsika Ngxanga have reunited after pursuing solo careers with a new band member after the exit of songbird Buhlebendalo Mda. Ntsika says they have been working on the album for four years, but all these years have been excruciatingly challenging as there was little inspiration. "It took us four years, believe it or not. Creatively it was not going anywhere. There was a time four years ago where it felt like work to write for The Soil," Ntsika admits. "It really took a lot out of me. I had to fast for a week and centre myself. But with the change, it started feeling effortless, like it felt in my solo journey. I would just dream these songs." In the album they will feature the likes of Thee Legacy, Pianists Dr Nduduzo Makhathini and Bokani Dyer, to name a few. Although they are on good terms with former member, Buhlebendalo, and there is no bad blood, It is when she announced her departure to pursue a solo career that they had to replace her and Theo came with inspiration and everything started flowing. "It was as though she had been with us for years," Ntsika says. "She has been a blessing indeed."

The Soil Reimagined with new member Theo Matshoba

THE DILEMMA

Buhlebendalo left the group which has been together for 18 years to pursue her solo career. Most of the songs were written by Ntsika, but Master P and the new member also contributed strongly to the melodies and lyrics. Speaking on the changes the group had to make when Buhlebendalo announced her exit, Native Rhythms boss Dr Sipho Sithole says, "Theo had big shoes to fill as she had to also contribute lyrically and contribute to the songs, Inkanyezi and Mamgobhozi. "We must appreciate the dilemma that we threw Theo in because when Buhle left, we had to make sure that we don't release an album with an artist that is not going to be there when we perform it," he says. "She came as the new member with the music that was already laid down, we had to take out Buhle's vocals and writing and ask Theo to reimagine what was supposed to be there and she came and created even more magic. She came and stepped up to the challenge."

REMOVING TRACES OF BUHLE

At the start of their career, The Soil was made up of Ntsika, Master P and Samthing Soweto who were instrumental part of making up the group. But after their music was recorded and released, Samthing Soweto left the group and was not present in any of their live performances. Dr Sithole says they have been through this before and were now well-equipped to deal with the matter when a member leaves. "We had to remove Buhle's lyrics, and melodies and ask Theo to create her own to avoid mistakes from the past."