Steve Umculo releases new song upon his return from Nashville

Umculo recently released “Fall from Grace” - the title track from his forthcoming EP - across all digital platforms.

Umculo lived in Nashville, USA for a couple of months and the sound of “Fall from Grace” draws on the major folk influences that the ‘music city’ has to offer.

Umculo claims that “folk has always had a significant meaning” in his life and that he “feels compelled to pay tribute to this through ‘Fall from Grace’ by drawing influence from artists such as The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons.”

The new decade means:

Fewer pandemics and more music festivals.

Fame is about:

How good the music is, and connecting people?

Retirement will happen when:

I’m too old and decrepit to perform. A studio at the coast is the destination.

I don't do:

Superficial connections; let’s grab a beer and get stuck in.

What does music mean to you?

Music, to me, is a vessel to help understand and connect with one another.

I would love to co-write with:

Locally, Bongeziwe Mabandla. Internationally, Hozier.

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

Down an existential rabbit hole, and to Cav’s house with a bottle of whiskey.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

The fact that it’s social, which, ironically, is also the hardest aspect of my work.

The song you must do in every show:

“Answer”.

Any funny moments on stage:

Getting called out, in Spain, for having a stage name that translates to ‘one a**hole’ in Spanish.

My heroes:

My mum, Dave Grohl and Hugh Masekela.

My style icon:

Masego ‘Maps’ Maponyane.

Which living person do you admire most and why?

My mother, Di Haiden, because I’ve seen her tirelessly work her way to the top of her company and become an incredibly powerful figure in her industry. She has an inspiring amount of drive and if I were to inherit just a fraction of that, I know I will be successful.

What is your most treasured possession?

The guitar that I picked up in a second-hand store while living in Nashville.

It’s your round, what are you drinking?

Double Jameson on the rocks if I’m treating the mates. Castle Lite draft on a normal night.

Dream gig to do:

Locally, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. Internationally, the Ryman Theatre in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nicknames:

Stevo. Stevovo. Vovs. Stevovolish.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

Guided hikes/trail runs around South Africa.

Who would play you in a Hollywood blockbuster and why?

Bradley Cooper. Apparently, I look like the dude, he can sing and I would like to hear him try a South African accent.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Energetic, entertaining, emotional, compassionate, liberal.

Five favourite SA albums of all time?

aKING - Against All Odds
Beatenberg - Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg
Fuzigish - Exploited and Distorted
Adelle Nqeto - Lights
Hog Hoggidy Hog - Oink!

Favourite fashion garment:

Nava Apparel - Xhosa-print vellies.

Give us some real proper slang and what it means:

“Qhumsa” - any object that isn’t frequently used and probably doesn’t have an actual name (usually something that gets inserted into something else) - last used to describe the plastic plug that goes into coffee lids to prevent spilling.

Your greatest achievement:

Playing at La Nit de Berklee in Valencia, Spain.

What do you complain about most often?

Being cold.

What is your fear?

Imposter syndrome. If you know, you know.

Happiness is:

Playing one-bounce with my mates and a cold beer in my hand.

Where would you like to be right now?

At Splashy Fen.

Do you do charity work and, if you do, what do you do?

Yip. Past - music workshops for underprivileged communities. Present - music-based fundraisers for One Small Act of Kindness in Johannesburg.

Wishes and dreams:

For society to understand each other a bit better.

Social media:

Spotify | Apple Music | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | SoundCloud | Twitter | www.steveumculo.com