Artist Ajar
Mukundi
"I started to understand that this deep desire for love that I was feeling wasn’t so much about the lack of romance in my life, but the lack of piety."
Blooming musical artist Mukundi gives us a glimpse into her debut single "The Lover's Nest" in this exclusive interview.
What's Your Story?
Mukundi is a multi-instrumentalist musician who is passionate about her art and the joy of music. Her diverse and rich taste in music translates to the uniqueness of her musical compositions, drawing inspiration from pop, jazz, soul, and Spanish flamenco music. This love is made full by her faith, which inspires much of her creative work.
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The Lover's Nest
"The chords came first, a simple progression of 3, and the melody shortly after. I am a lover girl, so I knew it was going to be a love song. At the time, I was doing a lot of reflecting about what love is, realizing that while the world is quick to call many different things love, the honest answer is none of us know how to. When it came to writing the words, I knew they needed to be simple yet effective with expressive metaphors that would help portray a sense of coziness, and comfort. So naturally it had to be a nest that these two lover birds are retreating to: their secret place."
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"They are building a home together that both of them want to be in. The idea of weaving tender love is also talking about that intimate and life-giving union between a man and a woman that produces children, and about how both these love-birds are doing their part to get the nest ready. It all comes together with a simple petition for vulnerability: “sing me your sweet melody, I’ll sing you mine.”
God, Love, and Music
Looking For Love and Finding Faith
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"At this time, I was undergoing deep spiritual formation as I began my initiation process into the Roman Catholic Church. I started to understand that this deep desire for love that I was feeling wasn’t so much about the lack of romance in my life, but the lack of piety. I longed for an eternal and unfailing Love that would not change, that would not run out, and that I could throw myself into with all my being without fear of rejection, ostracization, and abandonment. As I deepened my faith I understood that it was the love of God I longed for."
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"As intimate as the sacramental marriage between a man and a woman is, that is how deeply, and more even, our souls long to be loved by our Creator. Especially knowing that Love is made perfect by the cross of Jesus Christ. I was completely moved."
"Later, I came across a prayer by Padre Pio called 'Stay With Me,' and it just perfectly describes the soul’s longing to be forever close to God. The last line is 'Stay with me Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.' I just thought: how simple and beautiful is this and how well does it describe not only the desire to Love God but to love others and one day my future husband."
MUKUNDI AND THE BISHOPS
It Takes a Village
From Left: Rich "Firewall" Ndubane , Thapelo Daniel "Dash Wax" Mashego, Rendani "Thickwood" Ramakokovhu, Mukundi Victoria Ramaite
Osborn Ntimbani, and Dzunisani Clyde Masonto
"I'm very lucky to have found the musicians I worked with. They are just insanely talented and added so much depth and richness to the song. I couldn't have done it without them and the most fun part was coming into the studio with a seed of an idea, watering it through the session, and then having a fruit-bearing tree by the end. It's really incredible to share the process with people who care as much about the music as I do. Bishops, I salute you!"
A Prayer For The One I Love
"In the first chorus, I pray that the Lord stays close to me. In the second, I pray for the man I’ll one day marry.
In the third and the fourth, I pray for us in our union that we can be among the blessed few who are genuinely deeply in love in our marriage and that ours can be a nest of Love for God and for each other."
"The Lover's Nest" is available now on all streaming platforms.
