Abel Selaocoe guest stars on our podcast, I Never Thought It Would Happen
Hear how Abel was encouraged in his music making by his older brother Sammy, the seeds of his eclectic musical style and his admiration for the poet John Cooper Clark.
For this episode Chris welcomes South African cellist, singer and composer Abel Selaocoe – now residing in Manchester. Inspired by all sorts of different music he heard through the radio, Abel discovered the cello as a young boy, winning a scholarship aged 13 to study music in Johannesburg. Continuing his studies, he moved to Manchester at 18 to attend the Royal Northern College of Music.
In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode, Abel shares the personal, emotional, and spiritual journey that brought him to music, touching on the powerful influences of family, identity, and creativity.
Abel begins by reflecting on what initially drew him to music, describing a deeply personal need within his family “to have some kind of deep focus”. This search was led by his older brother Sammy, who introduced him to music as a shared emotional anchor. “My brother was amazing. He went out there and wanted to find something beautiful we could both focus on. And he found music.”
Sammy’s discovery of the bassoon – an unusual instrument in their quiet South African township – left a lasting impression. Abel recalls, “It was alien, extremely alien. And it looked alien… with the buttons. What is this machine? What is this thing?”
The conversation also explores the value of mentorship and the lasting impact of good teachers. “Even inside, there’s a sense of looking up to them even if they’re not there.”
Abel speaks passionately about the unique emotional power of music. “With music, you can spend time on your own and not be lonely or alone,” he says, describing music not just as a craft, but as a companion. He also touches on the spiritual nature of performing and the beauty of musical ‘conversation’ with an audience.
Abel also shares some of his artistic influences, “I’ve found a rawness in people like John Cooper Clark,” he says of the punk poet, and adds that he also listens to a bit of Sting.
The podcast also touches on Abel’s recent success, including his 2021 signing with Warner Classics. His debut album Where Is Home/Hae ke Kae featured a guest appearance from Yo-Yo Ma, and his follow-up Hymns of Bantu topped the OCC Specialist Classical Chart to critical acclaim.
Throughout the conversation, Abel offers insight into his inclusive philosophy of live performance, his eclectic musical style, and his thoughtful, grounded approach to inspiration – making for a deeply engaging and inspiring listen.