High and low notes on her journey

Liam Karabo Joyce interviewed musician Leanne Dlamini on going independent, End Girl Hate and new music

HE last time Leanne Dlamini and I had a chat, she had just started her End Girl

Hate campaign.

Fast forward almost two years and that campaign has become an international movement, having expanded to Canada and Botswana.

However, this time the focus of our chat is her music.

The singer, who has won two South African Music Awards, released her third studio album two years ago.

Titled Warrior, the album was a labour of love that never got off the ground and now, with some changes made to her career, Dlamini is relaunching the album, her image and sound.

The album was originally released under Mabala Noise Entertainment and Dlamini is now an independent artist with a distribution deal with Universal Music.

Speaking frankly on the subject, Dlamini said there was no way she would let Warrior go unnoticed.

“I worked very hard on this album and it didn’t do well when we first released it because of bad marketing and bad planning by me and my label at that time.

“It’s funny because we had a plan, but it was not followed through and I just felt this album was a great body of work that deserved another chance,” she said.

Dlamini worked on Warrior with American producer Antonio Dixon, with whom she has worked in the past, and wanted it to speak to her rhythm and blues roots.

“The album is grown-up and sexy. That’s the best way to describe it. Although I have played with many different genres in the past, R&B and soul speak to me and I wanted this album to be just like that, because I know there are still people who enjoy R&B like I do. Gqom and other genres are great, but we can’t listen to them all the time,” she said.

She admitted she had no idea what lyrical content the album would have.

“Antonio is an amazing producer to work with. When I work with him, he has free reign to do whatever. He played me a few tracks in the beginning and soon the messages on Warrior became clear, but I never thought too

Tmuch about it.

“I think it’s very easy for an artist to over-thinking things, but I didn’t. It all happened organically,” Dlamini said.

Having recorded the album between Los Angeles and Johannesburg, she said she had been in no rush to release it in 2016.

“I am not the best artist when it comes to studio work because I like to take my time. I don’t like rushing things. Whatever I do needs to feel right.

“There were times when I would record some music in

LA, then take a break because I needed to find my centre.

“I also went through a lot while putting it together. My dad died and I was in a huge spiritual war, which is why I called it Warrior – because I survived what I was going through while putting it together,” she said.

The mother-of-two said Patch It Up, a song originally written for Toni Braxton, was the single on the album she had the most fun recording.

“I just love that song. When I first heard it, I wanted it, but Antonio said it was a song for Braxton. A few days later, he called and said she had changed her mind.

“The song is based on a couple having an argument on a Saturday and how that’s the wrong day. It’s about fixing your relationship when it has a few cracks, no matter what. I had released an up-tempo single and a mid-tempo one as well and I really wanted to release a ballad, which is why I selected Patch it Up,” she said.

The video for the song debuted on television last week. “The video people have seen was not meant to be a music video. It was just a shoot for myself. I was doing my image shoot and there were cameras to shoot some behind-the-scenes shots, so I just thought that I’d do my video at the same time, in that moment. Again I did not over-think anything,” said Dlamini.

Although the past two years have been challenging in some respects, she said her challenges came with great lessons. “It’s not easy to release an album and not have it succeed, then leave your label and have to start the hard work again, but one of the biggest lessons I learnt during this time was to stay true to who I am.

“I was not bothered by trends around me or what people were saying. I just focused on what I am about and really learnt to wait on God,” she added.

On being an independent artist, Dlamini said it was not a decision she took lightly.

“I have been in the industry and I’ve had a lot of experiences. I have worked with great people, had great days and really bad days. For me, leaving my label was just a move where I got to focus on myself and do things my way. I am now exploring my options and trying new things.”

Dlamini said she hoped Warrior would remind people that love still existed.

“Love is not perfect. It can be very difficult, but if you know it is true love, then it is worth fighting for, it is worth enjoying. That’s what this album is about.

“It’s also a reminder to make love the main focus in your relationship and never give up, not just on your relationship but on yourself and your own hustle,” she said.

Of the End Girl Hate movement she started two years ago to support, uplift and empower women and girls after she noticed the hate within the entertainment industry, Dlamini said it had been her biggest learning curve.

“When I started this I had no plan, just a vision, and I did not think that within two years we would be in Canada and Botswana. It has been a very interesting journey and I have learnt so much through it.”