Zahara tells her story as fourth album released
WITH no single out there on rotation, the multi-award winning Zahara’s fourth studio album Umgodi has already captured the hearts of her supporters.
The Phumlani-born singer released her long-anticipated new offering last Friday, and according to her, it has already sold more than 20 000 copies.
On the album she features Kirk Whalum, an American jazz saxophonist and songwriter.
The songbird burst onto the music scene in 2011 with her debut album Loliwe, which went double platinum, selling over 100 000 copies nationwide.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Zahara said the album tells a story of liberation from struggle through love, faith and strength.
“I am not here to make hits. I tell my story and that’s what people love about me. We had no single out but people still went out and bought the album. It’s all God,” she said.
Zahara said since her debut in the music industry the media had tried to shift the attention away from her gift and onto her personal life.
“As a girl from the rural areas I came to Johannesburg to sing and to inspire people through my music, but the media tried to change that.
“Instead of focusing on my music career and inspiring other people they said lot of things about me.”
Since leaving TS Records, she started a company called ZaharaArmy and has been working hard at transforming the lives of young people in disadvantaged communities.
Zahara released her latest album under the label she co-owns with her former manager, Sanele Dlamini.
Their label, MHL Records, has a distribution deal with Warner Music South Africa.
“I left T S Records without a plan, but I knew my gift is God-given and he would take care of me,” she said, adding that she was the first artist under MHL Records.
Zahara said her family was happy with the progress she had made in her life.
“When I left T S Records they were scared on my behalf, but I told them not to worry. God is always in control.”
Even though the album does not have an official single yet, Zahara said she has recorded a video for one of the songs.
“There is a song called Umgodi and the video that we made will be coming out later this month. We will be debuting it on Live [an SABC1 music show],” she said.
This Friday, she said, she would be launching the album in Johannesburg. She added that she was planning to have a second launch in East London later in the year.
“For now I hope people find their own stories through my music and be inspired. I am here to inspire people through my gift,” she said. —