South African music legend Ringo Madlingozi has joined forces with his sons, singer Phila and emerging star Thanda Music, to release a new EP titled Uthando Ngundoqo (Love Is Essential).
The project pays tribute to the enduring influence of a mother’s love while confronting the heartbreak that follows her passing. Bringing together three family members, the collaboration offers a deeply personal account of love, loss and the experience of navigating grief.
For Ringo, creating the music meant approaching the subject with honesty and carefully selecting the melodies and instruments to reflect the emotions behind the songs.
“I had to be real in my creativity and believe that what I’m writing and singing about reflects the truest feelings of most of us who have lost their loved ones. I had to choose melodies and instruments that would ease the mind,” Ringo told TshisaLIVE.
Ringo Madlingozi Opens Up About The Inspiration Behind His New EP
The singer said the collaboration has strengthened the bond between the family members, with the music serving as a way to communicate a message of love and hope.
“This collaboration is cementing a genuine love for one another. It shows there is a bright light not only at the end of the tunnel, but inside it too. Love will conquer all, and we need to say it over and over again so the message can be cemented in our hearts and minds.”
Ringo explained that he encouraged Phila to approach their time in the studio professionally, asking his son to see him as an artist rather than simply as his father.
“When I’m in the studio working, I put on my artistic personality and become real to what I’m doing. I had to remind myself every now and then to know I’m working on a very personal, intimate project with the young men.”
The singer also reflected on how losing family members had affected him, describing the changes that followed his mother's death and the subsequent losses of his sister and father.
“So many hidden aspects about family fake personalities came out as soon as my mother passed on. It was different when I lost my sister and father, even though all the losses happened three years in succession.”
Phila Welcomes The Opportunity To Work With His Father
Phila, who has established himself in the entertainment industry as both an actor and a singer, said the project presents an opportunity to introduce a new generation of the Madlingozi family to the public.
He revealed that making music with his father had long been a personal ambition and that involving his younger brother made the experience even more special.
“I have always dreamt of creating music with my father. I knew that when the time was right, we would have something real and relatable to give to the world. Doing it with my little brother is the icing on our cake,” he said.
For Phila, the collaboration represents a significant moment in his artistic journey, bringing together family and music in a project he believes listeners can relate to.
Thanda Music Reflects On Grief And Working With Ringo Madlingozi
Thanda Music said he was honoured to contribute to a project alongside his father, whom he described as a legendary figure in South African music.
“It was magical and something I never thought possible,” he said.
Having lost his mother at a young age, Thanda said the experience initially left him struggling to understand the changes in his life. With time, however, his perspective on the loss has evolved.
“For me, as someone who lost a mother at a young age, I thought my world was ending. Now I understand what has happened and how people have changed around me.”
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He also described the lessons he learnt while working on the EP, particularly the challenge of performing under pressure alongside an established musician.
“It’s a life-changing experience ... My most valuable lesson was working under pressure with an icon. The song demanded a lot ... My father taught me how to express myself as simply as I could, even though it was difficult.”
Through Uthando Ngundoqo (Love Is Essential), Ringo, Phila and Thanda Music bring their individual experiences together in a shared musical project rooted in family, personal loss and the importance of love.
