Zu. is not your ordinary musician, she’s here to bring a unique element to the Mzansi music scene. She specialises in an eclectic fusion of Afro Pop, Afro Soul and Funk rounded off with her smooth, raspy and husky vocals.
Nozuko Mapoma known as Zu. has been in the industry for the past 16 years. She’s had a colourful upbringing and while her journey into the music industry has been filled with many ups and downs, it has mostly been a journey of development.
Zu. is refreshingly different, deeply spiritual and regards her music as a calling and puts everything she has into writing songs that speak from her heart.
In this exclusive interview, she opened up about her truth and shared why she’s such a chameleon in the music industry.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPBRINGING
I was born in Baragwanath hospital, and I grew up in the suburb of Kensington in Johannesburg. I’ve spent my whole life in Johannesburg, it’s where I found myself as a creative, musician and artist. I was raised in a Methodist household, with my father being a reverend. I lived with my mom who was a domestic worker and attended multi-racial schools quite early in my childhood. Going to these schools exposed me to so many things especially choir on a competitive level. I was also part of musical theatre and had access to the performance arts space, which I would not have been exposed to had I grown up eLokshin. So I could say my lack of privilege was my actual privilege because I grew in the suburbs of Johannesburg and went to private schools that offered me so much more.
WHEN DID YOU KNOW MUSIC IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO?
I’ve always been musical because the church was a huge part of my life growing up. I believe I found my calling when I did musical theatre because it was then that I wanted music as my career. There is such discipline in musical theatre, it moulds you and polishes your craft. From the rehearsals, the wardrobe preparations, make-up and the entire production, it helps build skills, focus and professionalism.
WHAT KIND OF ARTIST HAVE YOU DEVELOPED INTO?
From quite early on in high school, my love for music has made me sacrifice a lot. I remember on the day of my matric dance I could not have a manicure because I was cast in a play for a role of a child, so I could not have long fancy nails LOL.
After matric I started my first band, I also worked as a puppeteer and then a voice-over artist. I was also a sports editor for SABC for 11 years, working on all kinds of sports news for live broadcast. So I could say my experience in the broadcast and entertainment industry has made me a well-rounded creative.
I’ve done acting, musical theatre, short films, editing, voice-overs, so I’ve spent my adult years learning where I could. I didn't have the opportunity to go to varsity after high school. I‘m street smart, and I hustle my way through life and so much of my growth has contributed to the versatile artist I am today.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR GENRE OF MUSIC?
In some instances, I’m described as a Jazz artist, and that makes me cringe because Jazz is such a specific genre and not easy to dabble in, so I disagree with that. I have a very husky, raspy and unusual voice and people often ask who I would liken myself to, and I always say a combination of Macy Gray and Busi Mhlongo. It’s a rich and textured sound, that does not necessarily do what Beyoncé and the likes do, or what most people expect singers to sound like when they sing. My band Zuko Collective is an eclectic and alternative band that fuses the sounds that make up our influences. The best way to describe Zu. is a multi-genre artist. I was nominated for Best Alternative Album for the SAMA Awards, and ‘alternative’ is the safest place to tag my type of music.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EP ‘NDIM NANI’
‘Ndim Nani’ was part two of the trilogy called ‘Ndim’. I had a collection of about 23 songs that I had been recording that I needed to package in a way that was not going to bombard the audience. I came up with a plan to release these songs but not all at once. I decided on themes which were love ‘Ndim Nawe’, and then the second part which speaks about black power and beauty which is ‘Ndim Nani’ and part three is ‘Ndim Nomculo’ which is the selfishness and self-affirmation and validation part of the trilogy.
HOW ARE PEOPLE RECEIVING YOUR SOUND AND STYLE OF MUSIC?
The latest EP I released is an Amapiano song, even though I never dreamt of being on the Amapiano bandwagon. I wanted to stretch my musical muscles and explore myself more creatively. There’s a lot of depth and thought that goes into my writing and yes some people might misinterpret my lyrics and think I’m too much. But that is just who I am and I’ll always be that way no matter what genre I dabble in. My music is an extension of myself and is also my medicine, it's how I communicate and it's how I heal. I regard myself as Isthunywa and this is a calling that I need to honour by becoming a servant of delivering messages through songs. My content is deep and it’s not easy, but I’d like to believe that I was gifted to be burdened. I’m running a marathon, not a sprint.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
To be honest, there is no particular person I can mention in the industry. I’ve reached out to so many queens in the industry requesting mentorship and I’ve been rejected. If there’s one person in life that I look up to, it’s my late grandmother. She gave birth to eight children and raised my mom without a father at home. Makhulu was the epitome of strength, love, warmth and she was a God-loving woman who despite her own traumas was able to raise her kids very well. I look at my mother and the descendants she left behind and I’m in awe of how much of a superwoman she was and the lessons she bestowed on us.
WHAT MESSAGE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE TO SIMILAR ARTISTS WHO WANT TO ENTER THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?
I would say, first and foremost you need to have a lengthy conversation with yourself and ask yourself why you want to go this route. Because if your ‘why’ is not solid, it’s easy for people to push you off course. It’s easy to be influenced, bullied, and for doubt to be planted in your mind. As an artist, you need to be solid mentally, you need to be sure of who you are and what you stand for because there are so many little wars in the music industry that will put you to the test. I would also encourage you to start with what you have, don’t rush into chasing the big music labels, build yourself first and by the time people find you, you would already have a reputation and strong work ethic.
WHAT OTHER PROJECTS ARE YOU INVOLVED IN?
I’m the vice president of the Baby Mama Development Unit which is a mom-centred personal development platform for the modern single mom. For now, we are on Facebook and this is where we have authentic, expressive discussions and healthy debates about motherhood and the challenges single moms face. Our episodes tackle issues such as fostering healthier relationships with your baby’s father, parenting from our traumas, coping mechanisms and we try to create a safe environment for members to share and vent. The ultimate goal is to have a show on TV but we are pacing ourselves steadily because we want to do things properly.
ALL ABOUT AFRO POP & FUNK ARTIST: ZU. MAPOMA
Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar
on
August 18, 2021
Rating:
Reviewed by Michelle Pienaar
on
August 18, 2021
Rating:
