NOMISUPASTA ON AFROPUNK, NEW MUSIC AND FIRST-TIME MOTHERHOOD
I started following Afropunk while living in New York. With the discovery, I remember thinking, ‘this is for me’. It’s for black alternative musicians who might not fit into the mainstream. I shot a music video for my single Nguwe, submitted it to Afropunk US and they actually put it on their blog in 2010. So, when they came to South Africa, I knew I had to be a part of it because we’ve had a great working relationship. My performance at Afropunk will be about politics because we’ll be at Constitutional Hill after all. I’m definitely going to perform my singles The Emperor and Cockroaches with my 10-piece band. I’m extremely excited to be performing at home with them because I hardly get to do that. People can expect colour and energy — come experience someone live their dream on stage. Working with Harrison Crump was a great experience. He’s professional and all about the music. He’s exactly like me — he treats the studio as a drug-free zone, and we just let loose and create. My single Losing Myself, is introducing me to new audiences, because it appeals to everyone.
Music makes me happy. Getting on stage is my natural high. After any performance, you’ll find me still buzzing with energy because performing is that good of a feeling. Being a new mommy is absolutely incredible! It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I had fibroids and doctors had told me that I wouldn’t be able to have kids. I had two operations done to try improve my chances of having kids — the first one wasn’t a success and the second one, which was in January 2017, yielded results.
I kept my pregnancy a secret for the longest time. I was scared that should something go wrong, then I’d have to go through the loss with everyone else. It was the hardest secret to keep.
Running the Soweto Theatre is great. We’re such a close-knit family — the people I work with make it easier to balance it all and I’ve found a flow. I just have to ensure my work never suffers, and that I meet my budgets and reports. I don’t ever want to make people doubt me as a professional, so I don’t miss a beat at work. Through it all, I can’t ever sacrifice my daughter.
*Catch Nomisupasta at Afropunk, Constitutional Hill, Braamfontein on 30 and 31 December 2018