R'n'B star Nanette reflects on her journey ahead of 'Painfully Happy' album release

R&B songstress Nanette, whose real name is Sphesihle Nobethu Mbili Jolobe, is entering a new chapter in her career, and she is thrilled about how far she has come.

During an interview with “Independent Media Lifestyle”, the star in the making opened up about the creation of her upcoming album, “Painfully Happy”.

From working with the likes of Kelvin Momo, The Big Hash and the Major League DJz to releasing her debut album “Bad Weather” in 2022, the 23-year-old has reached many professional milestones.

Now, she is tapping into Soweto funk and jazzy-infused R&B with her latest single “Abazali” from her highly anticipated album.

The single carries a personal story for Nanette as she described the process of creating the song as both fun and refreshing.

“I had never tapped into that sound before, so it was out of my comfort zone. Still, because I’m a South African who grew up listening to good music, and I listened to our greats, it wasn’t hard to make the song.

“‘Abazali’ is inspired by my upbringing and the sacrifices parents make for their children. I wanted a song that the elders would listen to and feel nostalgic afterwards,” she said.

Meanwhile, the musician believes that the track has been resonating with fans because of its homegrown element.

On releasing the song during Women’s Month, she explained: “It was important for me to put the song (and the album) out during Women’s Month because I understood that there’s a lot of women who are parents and breadwinners in many families. 

"Myself, having been raised by my grandmother, knew firsthand the strength and sacrifice mothers [and fathers] made for us as their children."

The artist added that “Abazali” has the potential to be recognised globally as a classic R&B track as it features universal themes such as love, grief, joy, acceptance, growth and womanhood.

Looking back on her growth, she credits her confidence and her experience for shaping her sound, highlighting that the production and quality of her music have also been elevated.

She also shared her long-term goals, which include winning a Grammy and visiting many different continents. 

She also wants to see herself leaving a lasting legacy of good music and intentional storytelling.

To young artists, she offered advice: “Stay honest to yourself and what it is you want to do. Be patient and don’t talk negatively about yourself. Doing this career, you’ll realise words have so much power.”

Fans can stay tuned for a lot of performances and visuals from the album because the “Call You” singer is about to give them an ERA!

Recently, she was featured on Apple Music’s Alpha cover, which she describes as a proud moment.

“Getting featured as the ‘ALPHA’ cover was a huge honour for me. Being celebrated amongst other excellent women was equally encouraging and rewarding,” she said.