South African Music Awards nominated, afrotronic musician, Th&o. (pronounced Thando) delivers the new visual for his debut album, Ebusuku with a short film embodying the feel of the album.
Ebusuku which means “night time” in isiZulu was meant to capture Th&o.’s experience of solitude through his deeply conceptual album. In the Aadil Dhalech directed short film, Th&o. gives fans a visual representation through a cyclical journey. The cinematic and suspenseful visual includes three songs from the Th&o.’s debut LP, including the much buzzed about lead single, “Prosecco” along with “Body Like A Gun” and “Ghosting”.
Straddling between reality and the imaginary, the Ebusuku short film starts with Th&o. on a lonely drive only to see what looks like a pit stop in the middle of nowhere. The events that take place thereafter unfold into the mystical and bizarre as he accepts a drink from a stranger. On his album, Th&o. begins with the question, “The nighttime came for me, where is the off switch?” This short film will not provide the answer. However, it will take you on a journey which suggests that maybe the nighttime does not have a switch.
Th&o. had the following to say about the film, “The album and short film were inspired by how I processed certain situations and emotions during the revolving relationship I’ve had with the night. Strangely, this all came as a result of being nocturnal for over 10 years. The film was also inspired by a lot of the Japanese films I was into at the time; they were mostly about the Yakuza or Samurais. I have always been a fan of those genres of films. The director, Aadil, is about that world too, so he easily understood exactly where I wanted to go with this visual.”
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Th&o.’s unique sound encapsulates both alternative and electronica with elements of indie and funk. This is a perfect description as his musical influences include everyone from Mark Ronson and Jamiroquai to N*E*R*D and Fela Kuti. It is these sounds and influences that helped Th&o. create Ebusuku, which has been nominated under the Best Alternative category at this year’s SAMAs (South African Music Awards).
The nomination comes just after Th&o.’s single, “Moya Omubi” from Ebusuku was featured on the 2021 blockbuster Coming 2 America soundtrack entitled Rhythms of Zamunda.
Having already caught the attention & praise of such influencers and legends like Joe Budden and Jermaine Dupri along with brands like Adidas and Apple Music, Th&o. is quickly staking his claim to become a global superstar that everyone should know about!
