NOMA KHUMALO chats about her debut album, Joy.

Life after Idols is a different ballgame altogether. I’m no longer a student teacher; now I wake up and do interviews and publicity, or I’m in studio. It’s life on the go and I’m really excited but scared at the same time because I’m not sure what to expect. All I can do is keep an open heart and mind.

My album, Joy, is doing great and people are receiving it well. I especially enjoy album signings because I get to meet my fans – the people who support me. The appreciation they show makes me greatful and I don’t take it lightly. I’m still finding my sound. It’s still a process for me. I am experimenting with different beats but I want to pull through with a soulful afro-pop vibe – that’s where I want to be eventually.

How I deal with trolls on social media is that I am not really active on these platforms. But my followers and fans are always there to support me and fight my battles when people get ugly or negative. It was the same with a fake Facebook account that we took down earlier this year. My team handled it, I didn’t entertain it.