Thando Zide returns with "Emandulo", a song rooted in timeless love that explores the magnetic pull between two people drawn together by forces beyond explanation.
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“I’m intrigued by the concept of divinity in relation to love. Having two people feel, in the present moment, an energetic pull towards each other, with no concrete explanation for why they feel the way they do, speaks to something beyond logic,” said Thando Zide.
“All of this, to me, is the epitome of romance, drawing from a source as old as divinity to make sense of such a connection, finding reason even in the inexplicable for the love you have for the one you love,” she added, reflecting on the inspiration behind her latest single, “Emandulo”.
The track interprets the phrase “uThando lwethu olwaseMandulo,” presenting a story of connection that feels destined and deeply rooted.
Through her voice and writing, Zide presents a love that exists outside of time, yet is grounded in lived experience.
The single explores the idea that some connections do not need logic. Instead, they exist in feeling. Zide explained that this sense of mystery shaped her songwriting, allowing her to lean into emotion rather than structure.
The result is a song that speaks to both personal experience and shared understanding, where listeners can find their own meaning in the music.
Zide’s journey into music began in Soweto, where she was raised in a home shaped by sound. Her parents were involved in choral music, and rehearsals were part of daily life. This environment introduced her to harmony and performance at an early age, laying the foundation for her later work.
Her time at the National School of the Arts played a key role in developing her voice and approach.
“My experience at NSA exposed me to a number of different creative people. This meant a lot of being intrigued by what everyone was listening to and studying, and doing the same, listening to and studying different musicians from all around the world."
"The formal training received from the theory, I’d say, bolstered my understanding of music and what I had no language for in the beginning. This foundation helps me understand the process in my brain a lot better, when writing,” she said.
This period of study expanded her musical range and gave her the tools to shape her ideas with clarity.
It also introduced her to collaboration, which continues to influence her work. Over time, she has worked with a number of South African artists, each experience adding to her growth.
“It’s made me appreciate adaptability even more, which is why I keep working on my ability to adapt to different sounds, different processes as well as demands. I always leave a session with other musicians having learnt a lot, and I love that feeling,” she said.
These collaborations have helped refine her sound while pushing her to remain open to change. Rather than staying within one approach, Zide continues to explore new ways of creating, while maintaining a clear sense of identity.
Afro-soul remains central to her music, but she approaches it with intention. She sees her role as part of a wider cultural conversation, where each release contributes to how South African music is understood.
“What runs constantly in my mind is the significance of my role as a creative in South Africa, and the shaping of the creative culture that my music will do, with time."
"And so, this thought keeps me wanting to carefully and intentionally create music that will place integrity and quality as the standard of South African music, especially to listeners from other parts of the world,” she said.