Mixing Mtukudzi, Mapfumo with amapiano…Sha Sha on new album and influences.

Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday Life Reporter
SONGBIRD Sha Sha, whose new album I’m Alive is climbing the charts after its release on Friday, said an upbringing during which the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo were staples in her home has helped shape up her career in the amapiano genre.

Sha Sha released I’m Alive, her first project since 2019’s breakthrough Blossom EP, which was released while she was still under the tutelage of then mentor Maphorisa.

While Sha Sha now dabbles in other genres, which was perfectly captured in her latest album, she is still rightfully regarded as one of the pre-eminent voices in her genre which she helped fire to the top with her immaculate vocals.

In an interview, the songbird revealed that listening and taking lessons from the likes of Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo helped her develop a unique style that enabled her to aim for the top.

“I grew up listening to Zimbabwean artistes like Oliver Mtukudzi and Thomas Mapfumo, so I have always been exposed to those types of sounds. Now, when I tap into amapiano, and when I create my own music, I bring in my Shona — my culture — because it represents where I have been. I have lived in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa, and the exposure to these cultures are put into my songs. I like to play around with them and merge them into my music,” she said.

Sha Sha, who spent time under the wing of famed urban grooves musician Audius Mtawarira before Maphorisa stumbled on her, said the time she spent under his wing was crucial to her development as an artiste.

“When I look back at it, I actually see how badly it was needed because back then, I was such a shy person. I was really in my shell, I was an introvert, and I used to have such serious, crippling stage fright. Through the programme, I was introduced to Audius Mtawarira, a radio personality, who then became my mentor. I worked with them for a good four years, working on my energy and my presence — just getting the hang of being an artiste. I spent so many hours in the studio working that I even lost count. I spent time without dropping any music because we were working on finding my voice and coming out of my shell. It was a very important part of my career,” she said.

Despite the xenophobic sentiments sometimes prevalent in South Africa, Sha Sha said she was yet to experience any discrimination in the music industry.

“Yet I haven’t felt any different as a Zimbabwean in the music industry. I’m just a female in the industry, trying to push my work and trying to do what I want to do. I have been accepted with open arms, and people have treated me amazingly. The fans and the industry welcomed me as their own,” she said.

The songbird, who snatched a historic victory at the 2020 BET awards, said she only realised the honour of the achievement after a tour of her native country.

“It was so unexpected. At the time I had just dropped my Extended Play (EP, 2019’s Blossom) and was still working towards that type of recognition and success. So, when I heard I was nominated I could not believe it. I told my colleagues, “You must be joking”. I was so excited about the nomination, but I thought that’s where it would end because I didn’t think I would win it. Me? Win? That was a whole different level of joy and happiness. It was insane.”

“Isn’t it crazy to think about that? I remember after I won, people back home reached out to share how proud they were of me. And when I went back (to Zimbabwe) on tour, the love I received was just insane. It was a very beautiful moment,” she said.

While amapiano was not her first love, having dabbled in various genres before she met Maphorisa fortuitously, Sha Sha said it had been crucial in her development of the powerhouse the would of music now knows.

“I discovered (the genre) in late 2018. I had just met (producer) DJ Maphorisa, and he really has a gift of just knowing what is going to be big. He was already pumping the sound, so when I listened to it I knew it was fire. It was just so crazy. I listened to it more and more, and it grew on me. Eventually, I knew I had to jump on this. It was exactly what I needed to be creating.

When I look back at my career, I realise Amapiano was what I needed to grow and evolve as an artiste. This is the music that I embraced as being Sha Sha,” she said.