Mphela makes winning musical moves with Midas touch
Dancer aims for superstar status
Kamo Mphela has easily positioned herself as the queen of hype music and her every move has been calculated.
The 20-year-old newcomer with her signature dance moves and catchy hooks has ceaselessly featured on amapiano bangers that have masses losing their minds at grooves. Simply put, Mphela is all about the vibes.
The Emndeni-born, Soweto, star hates being compared to other artists, but I have to liken her Midas touch to that of master collaborator DJ Khaled. To borrow a famous victory parlance from the American rapper, all Mphela ever does is win, win, win no matter what”.
I don’t only want to make hype music,” Mphela says during our telephonic chat before revealing she’s more of an R&B girl. “I’m still on the come up. Where I am right now is nowhere close to where I see myself going,” she says.
I see myself becoming an international superstar, doing big stages with big crowds and being offered international collaborations – just representing my country.”
By the way, Drake, Davido and Tory Lanez are top of the list of her dream collaborations. “I’m a dancer who turned into a musical artist,” Mphela says before clarifying that she has never had formal dance training.
I’m just trying to change the narrative around dancers and give them a different story apart from dancers not being appreciated and paid well.”
Mphela’s career serendipitously kicked off early last year. She had recorded a dance video of herself breaking down to an early version of smash amapiano number Sukendleleni.
The video clip quickly went viral, resulting in Jobe London and Mphow 69 offering her a guest appearance on the now popular version featuring
Mphela (Jobe, jobe udlala kamnandi... Au ’ suge endleleni jobe).
People didn’t know who I was, but they knew Jobe. I was credited under a different name, Kamo Manje; I don’t knowwhy because I’ve never called myself that. But I ran with it,” she says.
Before long her name was on almost every hit dance track of the past year. These songs have dominated both online music platforms and traditional radio airplay. But perhaps Amanikiniki by MFR Souls (Hhay amanikiniki, hay icheese, hay ichicken, hay ibeef) is her biggest hit yet.
“I created the lyrics by chance, but
I was also trying to bag a campaign with NikNaks. I’m always trying to create an opportunity out of bubblegum lyrics,” Mphela says. “But I never expected it to be a vibe. I won’t lie, the majority of the time in studio I’m nervous.
The majority of the songs that became hits I did not like themthe first time I listened to them. I didn’t like Sandton or Amanikiniki until people started vibing with them. I must trust myself more.”
Sandton is the standout song by DJ Maphorisa and Kabza De Small from their offering The Return of the Scorpion Kings.
Bare shebile! Bare ghalela! Bare yentse window shopping! Areyeng Sandton, Mphela sings with such sass that you can’t help but dress up and explore the Sandton nightlife. Of all her notable collaborations, Busiswa’s Sbwl has been her favourite. “I enjoyed that because I mean, it’s Busiswa. It was a fun experience because she is very kind,” Mphela says. “Spending time with her in studio, she gaveme a lot of tips. So I enjoyed the relationship more than anything else.”
The firstborn of six children, Mphelawas studying at Boston Media House before her music career took off. She plans to return to her studies.
“There is this thing that I’m not smart. The misconception with me is that she’s another hun and she doesn’t know what she is doing,” Mphela says.
I’m a wild girl to a certain extent. But people are surprised that I’m not empty in the head. I won’t say I’m an academic, but I have a brain. I don’t like that I’m being compared to others that came before me. On the one hand I’m happy that they are comparing me with legends. But I also don’t like that they are calling me another Chomee.”
Mphela is an independent artist and is not planning on signing with any major stable
unless it’s an international deal that makes sense to her.
She plans to releaseher own EP next year and the idea of a full-length album doesn’t appeal to her.
There is money behind the music and writing. There is actually more money aside from you looking pretty in front of the camera,” Mphela says.
I used to take things so lightly and I had to learn about royalties and how you put yourself in a position where you are going to make money after you are done working.”
As for the constant obsession with her romantic life, Mphela says she’s “single and chilling ”.