From Bowls to Beats: N.O.D’s Drumming Journey
Ntsako Patrick Ngobeni, popularly known as N.O.D from Kwa-Thema, is a talented self-taught drummer who has taken his passion for drums to greater heights.
He has recently dropped his new single titled “Sokalami” from his upcoming album “Uhambo Lwempilo (The Journey of Life)” featuring Idols Season 16 golden ticket recipient, Busisiwe Mthembu on vocals.
The song talks about a single mother who has been left by the father of her children.
“I have been playing drums since a young age, and I have never loved anything as much as I love them. They are my heartbeat. Ironically, my middle name is Ntsako, meaning happiness in Tsonga, which describes my character because I’m ever cheerful.”
“I remember when I was four years old, I used to take out my mother’s bowls and buckets, and I would bang them using wooden spoons and tree branches as sticks. I did not know that it was the beginning of what I would later become in life because most children at that age usually experiment with anything. At the age of thirteen, my parents noticed my passion and took the initiative to save money and bought my first drum kit. This gave me exposure, which resulted in me getting more bookings to come and play for them at church and in all other gigs outside.”
Ntsako describes his sound as soft and soothing, consisting of different elements.
“My role model is Robert Glasper. He inspired the kind of sound and emotions I create in a song when composing lyrics. What keeps me going despite the challenges of being an independent artist is the quality of the music I compose, as I do commercial material with different elements of R&B, Pop, and African that people can relate to.”
Ntsako’s other hidden talents include music writing, composing, and producing. The single is available on all streaming digital platform.