Rising maskandi artist Mphephethwa, whose real name is Luyanda Vilakazi, is tugging at the heartstrings with his latest EP project

Leading with the song, i-Celullar, which tells a sweet, nostalgic love story that takes listeners back to a time when love was simple and a little bit creative, the EP is made up of six tracks, but i-Cellular is the main topic of the EP.

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The song is inspired by a moment from his school days, when he could no longer hide his feelings for a girl he admired so much. “We first exchanged numbers at school, and later made plans to meet, but on my way there, my phone’s battery died.”

With no way to call or text, Mphephethwa had to think on his feet or miss the date, something he was not intending to do. “I had to whistle so she could hear me and know I was outside and then come.” Back then, that was the code. Mphephethwa knew that you don’t just enter a girl’s home like that, especially with her parents around.

A guy would stand outside, whistle softly, and wait for the girl to peep through the window or come out. It was low-key, respectful, and everyone understood the signal. “The song honours that traditional way of courting a girl, because it felt right when I experienced it. It’s a memory I can’t just erase.”

Through i-Celullar, Mphephethwa reflects on how relationships once blossomed without the help of smartphones or social media. “Back then, you had to make a plan. People were intentional. You had to show effort, and that is what made it beautiful and the song tells exactly that story.”

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While the two are no longer together, he said the memory still lingers in his head. “It was such a beautiful moment for me. I’ll never forget it, and that’s why I had to turn it into a song, not just for me but also our elders to remember the good old days because technology was not that advanced back then.”

Music has always been part of Mphephethwa’s story. Growing up in a large family influenced by his grandfather’s polygamous household, he often performed at family gatherings.

“That’s where it all started. I fell in love with performing, and they would give me money during those moments. That motivated me to keep on doing it.”

He said he continued nurturing his talent at school through cultural activities, eventually developing a strong passion for maskandi, while also exploring Afro-pop sounds.

Now, with i-Celullar available on Spotify and other digital platforms, like iTunes, Mphephethwa is looking forward to sharing that same heartfelt energy with live audiences, as soon as he gets booked and busy.

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