Photo credit: @itsnotfilm.co
Words by Rama Ndiaye
In the new Netflix-platformed movie Piano Love, seasoned South African artist and filmmaker Mandla N takes centre stage to tell a story that hits close to home. With roots in the music industry through his work with Gang of Instrumentals, he shifts gears to the film world with a narrative that mirrors his very own journey—one of reinvention and staying true to your voice, even as the culture around you evolves.
“The inspiration comes from my own life story,” says Mandla N. “I used to do a lot of music back in the day with my band, Gang of Instrumentals. But as time passed and music took a backseat, I had to ask myself, ‘What’s next?’ That’s how I transitioned into film. I never allowed myself to be a victim of circumstance. I kept it moving.”
This project, steeped in the sounds and rhythms of Amapiano, is a powerful reflection of the highs and lows artists face—not just in South Africa, but globally. After a private screening recently in London, we sat down with Mandla N to talk about how his experience in music naturally led to this cinematic endeavour, the challenges of ownership, the reality of navigating the sometimes sheisty music business, and what it’s like to create a film that speaks to a global audience.
With a cast featuring the likes of Kwesta Dakar and Bontle Modiselle, and a soundtrack that includes 28 South African musicians, Piano Love promises to be a bold statement on what it means to own your craft and remain authentic in a fast-moving industry.
Rolling Stone Africa: Hi Mandla. Thank you for inviting us down to watch your new movie, Piano Love. It was a gripping watch. For those who are yet to see it, please give us some background on the inspiration behind the film.
Mandla N: The inspiration comes from my own life story. I used to do a lot of music back in the day with my band, Gang of Instrumentals. But as time passed and music took a backseat, I had to ask myself, “What’s next?” That’s how I transitioned into film. I never allowed myself to be a victim of circumstance. I kept it moving! I never sat back and allowed myself to be a victim. It’s exactly my story, where you look at it and you say, “You don’t have to change your voice to be part of a moving culture, to be part of what Amapiano is today. You just have to bring yourself.” And that’s exactly what I did. That’s what inspired me.
Would you say that Piano Love is a reflection of current life in South Africa?
The film is a reflection of what it’s like being a musician, globally, where you’ve got producers and people who can make things happen for you wanting favours, and some of those favours are not favourable to you or your brand. So we drew inspiration from within the context of South Africa. I have written quite a lot of stories within my life, but this one, I was inspired by the globe and how they were receiving Amapiano. I thought to myself, “I have to make my mark and tell the story that is taking the world by storm.”
The inspiration was really South Africans who are making it! Within South Africa, you have Scorpion Kings, Young Stunna, Kabza de Small, and I had to be part of that and tell their story. We probably commissioned about 28 musicians within the film, so it was great just being part of their journey and their livelihood in terms of licensing all that music.
What’s your most memorable experience making this film?
For me, the most memorable experience was in making that decision to go, “Guys, we’ve got something special here. How do we export it? Let’s premiere in London!” And that decision got us here today. Even now, having this interview with Rolling Stone Africa. Man! This is a huge look for us. So I’d say I’m still in that moment, and these memorable moments are coming over and over, and every single day I’m just living and going through them.
You told the crowd here today that the film took eight days to shoot—how did you manage that?
I’ve been in the business for a very long time, so I understand how to shoot for edit. I’m a director who shoots for edit. I understand the types of shots I want. Pre-prod is also a big thing. You plan so that everything goes the way you plan, so that when you approach the film, you know exactly who the actors are going to be, and also have an amazing team. I’ve got a really, really great team, and that’s why we could do it in eight days.
Can you name some of the main cast members?
Absolutely: we’ve got Kwesta DaKar and Bontle Modisille leading the cast.
Is the whole film owned by you and your team, or is there external ownership?
I think ownership is a huge thing, especially when we were licensing the music. We realised that South Africans, or even African musicians and artists, don’t own their work—it’s owned by huge labels and international labels. So, for us, ownership is extremely important. And we feel it’s the beginning of what’s to come. We’re inspiring people to own their work, own their IP, because it’s what’s going to get them, get their kids, and their kids’ kids paid and living through their art.
I love that. When is Piano Love officially out?
The film is out on September 6, on Netflix—globally! We’re quite excited; we’re promoting it heavily in South Africa because it’s obviously the entry point, and then the rest of the world.
Any last words for your supporters?
We really, really appreciate the support and we wouldn’t be here without the world just embracing us as South Africa, as Africa. Our story is their story—it’s not really separate like that. We are part of their story and their culture. We’re all part of a shared narrative, and in 50 years, it’s going to be everyone’s story—not just mine.
“We just be doing shit,” he says. “Sometimes I do a couple songs, sometimes I only do one song. Sometimes I do five songs. I work every day though, so I make a boundless amount.” Hopefully, the new artists around him are taking notes.
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