Says producer Anant Singh, “Music has always been ingrained in South African society and played a central role during the struggle years. The soundtrack of the film captures this, as well as the popular music of the various eras depicted in the film and includes classic tracks from Miriam Makeba, the Manhattan Brothers and the Havana Swingsters. Alex Heffes did an amazing job composing and conducting the score and, his collaboration with Caiphus Semenya on the vocals and traditional instruments enhances the score by giving it a South African flavour.”

Composer Alex Heffes’ score features both choir vocals and South African music legend Caiphus Semenya. Heffes has received a BAFTA nomination and has worked on a range of Academy Award winning films.

After working in South Africa, Heffes conducted and recorded the rest of the score at London’s Abbey Road with a 65-piece orchestra. “The film provided me with a vast emotional canvas,” says Heffes. “My aim was for the music to guide the audience through this emotional journey and come away with a joy for what this story can inspire in us,” he adds. “The score starts sparsely using African instruments and becomes more orchestral as the story darkens. As the years become more up to date, it adds electric guitars and synths to give the audience the subliminal feeling of the decades having passed.” 

The soundtrack to ‘Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom’ is out now.

Teamtalk

(Credit:Facebook.Nelson Mandela)