We chat to Sama award winner Shekhinah
With three Sama awards under her belt this newcomer is making her mark in SA music. We chat to the former Idols contestant
The Durban songbird recently cemented her status as one of South Africa’s hottest new talents when she scooped three Sama awards: album of the year ( for Rose Gold, her debut), best female artist and best newcomer.
The former Idols contestant’s breakout track was 2015’s Back to the Beach with Kyle Deutsch. Since then she’s gone from strength to strength, with Rose Gold – released in October last year – going gold. We caught up with the singer, whose name means Glory of God in Hebrew. Did you ever think you’d be a threetime Sama winner at the age of 23? “Not at all! I thought it would take me a lot longer to get there. It’s a huge blessing.” Did you go out and celebrate afterwards? “Actually, I was so lame. I just had a little get-together in my hotel room with my parents, some friends and people from my record label. I actually partied the night before.” Were any of your wins especially significant for you? “Album of the year was. Some of the other categories can be a bit biased, but in that category it was anyone’s game.” You’ve had such success with Rose Gold, particularly the hits Suited and Please Mister. Did you write all the songs on the album? “Yes. Please Mister I wrote while studying music at Afda [the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance, from which she graduated in 2017]. In my second year I had to submit 30 songs as part of my songwriting course, and that song was one of them. But it’s since been reworked.” What’s your new song, Different, about? “It’s really cool. I basically wanted to express to myself that it was okay to be different and okay to be me, especially in today’s world where there are so many examples of beauty, wealth, power and love.” Tell us a bit about your childhood. “I’m the second youngest of five kids. My mom was a rector at an Anglican church; my dad runs an organisation that raises funds for NGOs. Growing up, I was in a youth choir. I also did theatre, dance. My parents always inspired me to follow the arts.” What were your musical influences back then? “It was crazy. We listened to so many different styles – from Nirvana and Cher to Trompies and Dr Dre.” How would you describe your sound? “R&B mixed with pop-soul.” Your voice is sultry and soulful. Are you ever compared to anyone? “Jill Scott and Sade. My family think I look like Oprah Winfrey though! [laughs]” It sounds as if your family are really close. “Yes, we are. My sister works on my team – she does my website, photos and so on; my dad does my finances and my sister-in-law does my admin.” What’s been your biggest challenge so far? “I think it’s hard for any female to make a name in an industry that’s typically male-dominated. I’ve had to take a stand on many occasions and say what I think I’m worth.” Who would you love to work with? “There are so many . . . but I love Miguel, Sza – she’s just magical – and [Canadian R&B duo] Majid Jordan.” Where do you see yourself in five years? “I’d like to be at the peak of my career. I’d like to expand, maybe write for other artists, experiment with different mediums. And to be international, of course.” What do you do to chillax? “Watch cartoons – I just love them.”
‘The idea of being made of many parts really sums up both me and my music’