Marsahall Mandiangu - Indigo Child (Album) + 10 Questions

Four time award nominated artist Marshall Mandiangu delivers his ambitious new album Indigo Child, a genre-blending 13-track journey through spirituality, grief, love and self-empowerment. Deeply personal and creatively adventurous, the project sees Marshall pushing his musical boundaries while exploring the complexities of identity, healing and personal transformation.

Inspired by life changing experiences in June 2025, Indigo Child was born from a period of intense reflection and self-discovery. Confronting past traumas, embracing vulnerability and learning to take accountability, Marshall channels these experiences into an emotionally charged body of work that explores the balance between light and darkness. Structured around the seven chakras, the album takes listeners on a journey through grief, resilience, acceptance and ultimately empowerment, with each track contributing to a wider narrative of growth and spiritual awakening.

Written, composed, arranged and produced entirely by Marshall, the album highlights his versatility as both a musician and storyteller. Drawing on Brighton’s thriving music scene, Indigo Child features contributions from Imani Ruiz, Xan, Ana Danin and the Spring Into Soul Community Gospel Choir, alongside East London rapper Redzman on ‘12:12’. The collaborations add further depth and character to a project that moves between different musical styles while maintaining a strong sense of identity.

More than simply a collection of songs, Indigo Child represents a defining moment in Marshall’s artistic journey. Unafraid to confront difficult emotions or challenge expectations, he delivers a project rooted in honesty, self-expression and creative freedom. It's an album that captures the transition into a new chapter, with Marshall reclaiming his narrative and embracing the artist and person he is becoming.

Cop Indigo Child on vinyl and CD here.

Marsahall Mandiangu sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

My love for music began through being raised in a Congolese-Christian household and being the eldest child of what was four at the time, way before my younger brothers were born. The first piece of music I listened to before I developed a taste of my own was a gospel album called "Kiese mu Yesu" by Matou Samuel; it was through that album that I learned the intricacies of songwriting, producing, polyrhythmic composition, vocal arrangement and how to use my voice, especially where it comes to utilising different tempos, moods, styles and flavours. Through that album, I then discovered my love of rap (grime, before hip hop), R&B/Soul, pop, funk, rock, gospel, and other outlets of musicality that I still find myself going back to, today.

For an AuDHD child that grew up in a council estate (Midsummer Avenue, Hounslow Heath, West London), music was my only escape and I didn't know how to do much of anything; it is what not only helps me with my sense of confidence and way of expressing myself, but through the intersectional identity of being first generational British & Congolese, my love for music goes way beyond listening to a song. It is a way of life, a spiritual connection that calms and soothes me, an instrument of nature that enables me to be at unison with the Universe in and of itself. Without music, there certainly wouldn't be a Marshall Mandiangu talking to you and I wouldn't have seen myself being alive this long, not to make this a dark moment, but the truth is, music is what I accredit to being clean and sober for so long as well as being the one thing that wakes me up in the morning. It is because of music and my love for it, that I am beyond blessed to have met so many lovely people over the course of my career and in turn, being able to give back to the community that raised me.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

Without me evading my answer to this question, I would like to use this opportunity to big up the people in the Brighton music scene that inspire me; such as JJM, Jaebo, Lilly Wolfe, Frankie Jean, Xan, Ana Danin, Imani Ruiz, Kesh, DizLyric, Xalia, Trinity, Kylah Burgoyne, Amber Burgoyne, Sylvia Mwenze, Scarlette Fae, Bobbie Johnson, Phonetic, Hatter, Gi3mo, Vitamin G, Luan, Where's Gulu, Hinesy Hines, Verbz - those are some of the names within the scene that always ensure that I am reaching levels beyond my own limits and capabilities.

Whilst I usually work alone due to my own skill set, I would be open to working with people that can keep up with my speed, as somewhat arrogant as it sounds, but because I work at a quick speed when left to my own devices, whomever I open myself to working with would definitely need to be on my wavelength and sense of precision when collaborating.

I want to be around those who make me want more for myself creatively, even to the point where I could be doing a certain vocal take in twenty diverse ways. If I were to answer this question in the sense of talking about mainstream celebrities, then I would mention Chip, Skepta, Boy Better Know, Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Jhene Aiko, SZA, Amy True, Werrason, JP Mpiana, Fally Ipupa, Yondo Sister, Mbila Bel, Koffi Olomide, Matou Samuel – my musical tastes are international and those would be some of the names I would be wanting to collaborate with. If I were to include dead celebrities, Michael Jackson would always be first on my list.

3. What projects do you have coming up, and can you give us any info on them?

I have just released my latest studio album called "Indigo Child", which is a unique 13-track LP that combines genres such as hip hop and grime to R&B/Soul with the occasional dash of rock, pop, funk, Congolese Rumba and gospel. I am so incredibly proud of this album due to the level of vulnerability, shadow work, honesty, accountability and truth that required for me to take off the autistic mask and have me finally confronting myself on a level that has now made me aware that the next couple of projects that I do will be useful for me with healing, therapy, counselling and talking about taboo topics that not many of my peers would otherwise talk about. That said, this isn't to say that every album I make will be riddled with trauma; I love concept albums that take the listener to different scopes of sonic landscape and imagination beyond what the eyes and ears can both conceive and perceive. I believe that "Indigo Child" does that because each song works in alignment with the seven chakras and depending on how the CD is played; I either reach spiritual enlightenment or find myself back into the cycle of unresolved darkness.

Let me use this opportunity to shoutout JJM, Romy Beckles (my personal photographer), Obsidian K, these three make up for my creative team and helped me bring such an uncomfortable journal entry into musical form, as well as two of my best friends and chosen family members Seyitan Osho & Casey McClean for the conversations that were had with me behind the scenes that helped me bring the events of Summer 2025 together.

Amid that, I am also featured on a fantastic group album called "The Fifth Foundation" in collaboration with amazing musicians as such J. Felix, Essa, Arevieje, Jack Kendon, Jerry, Vanya, Richard Spaven and others; releasing a solo LP in the middle of a group album run felt rather risky to do but it was a decision that I am grateful to have received the blessing for.

4. How would you describe your sound?

If I am to talk about my album "Indigo Child", then I would describe the sound as a unique and imaginative blend of genres that shouldn't go together; there isn't anything I could compare it to, the closest thing that I could say would work in somewhat of a similar vein would be "Mr Morale And The Big Steppers" by Kendrick Lamar or "Conflict of Interest" by Ghetts.

Everything you hear on the album is entirely composed, arranged, produced and written by me, except for "New Dawn" being written by Jack Kendon and further worked on between him, J. Felix, a spectacular Worthing musical group called "Spring Into Soul Community Gospel Choir" and myself. My sound is rather unexpected and eclectic, and whilst I'm not one of those musicians that say that my sound is inspired by everything; in all honesty, my sound is inspired both by my environment and whatever catches my ears by random. If it is fast, funky, groove and authentic; I find myself open minded to different sounds. But to hell with drum rolls, they give me nightmares.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

The proudest moment that I have had so far as an artist would be me knowing that I can do everything I love with the mask no longer existing. As a neurodivergent music artist with autism, ADHD, BPD (borderline personality disorder), anxiety and MDD (major depressive disorder); I feel proud knowing that I can do a "Love Supreme" or perform to a sold-out crowd at the Alphabet (Brighton). Of course, being a 4x award-nominated artist is always a proud achievement that I can boldly claim; but to name some of my proudest moments as an artist would make for a long list, so I shall answer this by saying that I feel good knowing that being completely unmasked has rewarded me with a second wind in being able to continue doing music as a profession and as a way of life.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

If I were to have any advice for the readers who tune in to Wordplay Magazine, my advice would be as follows: 

• Do what you love and let the money and other rewards find you after. Like Quincy Jones once said: “You need to allow space for God to walk into the room.”

• Identify your talent and use that as your selling point, however niche it may be. I knew that music was for me the second that I would find myself being able to recite songs back by listening to them once (of course, being pitch-perfect also helps!) but when you know what you’re good at, follow it all the way through. That 10,000-hour principle is no joke.

• Know when to rest and allow for your body to breathe. As much as we are in an industry that prioritises needing to be everywhere and needing to be everything at once, know when to tune out and allow yourself a moment to switch off. For my neurodivergent self, I unfortunately had a period of autistic burnout that lasted a whole year and some change; I’m still recovering from it now, but it now means that I cannot be as active as I would like to without the acknowledgement that I cannot operate my body like a neurotypical person.

• Spotify is bullsh*t (pardon my language); streaming sucks and if you are like me, a lover of physical media, be daring in your approach and stick to your guns. With “Indigo Child,” I made the deliberate decision not to have the album being on any streaming service; simply because I had enough of the way that the current industry seems fit for musicians to be making a living off our art. Our music is worth more than a simple stream, it is time for consumers to put monetary value back into their art again.

• Be a kind person and be a likeable person that people will remember. I will not encourage you to be “nice” (because eww to people-pleasing), but it costs nothing to be kind. Treat the janitor the same way that you would the CEO, you never know when you may need a favour and the people you were kind to, then pay it back in abundance. Do not be kind to gain reward, be kind because it is who you are.

• Be YOURSELF. Acknowledge your influences and allow your influences to take precedence in your music but find the things that make your personality and identity shine. For me, it was the ownership of my stimming, my autistic traits, my quirks that have now enabled me to fully stick to my guns and become unafraid in representing myself as an artist who just so happens to be both disabled and neurodivergent; but the one thing that you probably feel ashamed of, is the one strength that will have you standing out in a room that expects you to fit in.

• Use your discernment; not every hand you shake is a good one, and not every person who rejects you is a bad egg. You will know that you are truly aligned when you make decisions from a calming state, never from a state of rushing or acting on impulse.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

All of the names that I mentioned in response to the previous question I was asked and I will mention them here again - JJM, Jaebo, Lilly Wolfe, Frankie Jean, Xan, Ana Danin, Imani Ruiz, Kesh, DizLyric, Xalia, Trinity, Kylah Burgoyne, Amber Burgoyne, Sylvia Mwenze, Scarlette Fae, Bobbie Johnson, Phonetic, Hatter, Gi3mo, Vitamin G, Luan, Where's Gulu, Reem, EMCO, Rach (and the entire Spotlight Events crew), Lennon, Kyreece, Kayncee, Yesha, the entire Go For It Tribe, Eden Kelly, Katja Macabre, Rhys Lite, Fraktured Planet (as a crew), Luciferian, Priest, Bang GK, Billy BarHard, MadaLDN, Redzman, Vanessa Williams, Sunset Sessions (as a platform, because they are absolutely BRILLIANT with putting new artists on), Baked Beats Brighton, AudioActive (because there is a slew of artists that they work with that deserve major spotlight), MyselfJawdz, Cassie Rytz, Monisha Sho, Modulation. Lengthy as my answer is to this question, it would feel amiss of me if I did not use this as an opportunity to shine a light on others that deserve to be seen.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I do not use Spotify. Sorry!

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

When I am not making music (which is rare), I do my best to prioritise rest and ensuring that I have enough energy to continue what I am doing. I love watching cartoons or watching movies or just being a foodie that watches a movie on 8x the speed. I love walks in nature, viewing stars glowing in the sky or just looking at a wall. If I am not doing that, I am just keeping up with what is going on in the scene. Nevertheless, I do my best to find a balance between being active and needing to be offline.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

Interestingly, I wouldn't know how to answer that question because I would prefer to work with no distractions; nevertheless, what I couldn't live without when being in a studio environment would be musical instruments, a good microphone and incense sticks that cleanse the energy of my space. If the energy is clean and the utilities are available to me, everything is beautiful.