In the vibrant scene of South African music, alternative soul and house music singer-songwriter, Bongi Mvuyana, has captivated audiences once again with the release of her much-anticipated second studio album, POWER, which marks a bold new chapter in her music career.
Bongi’s music is rich with storytelling and emotional depth. Since her debut in 2009, she has released critically acclaimed albums and collaborated with top producers in the house music scene. Here we get to discover how POWER elevates her artistry to new heights and what makes her a true musical gem.
Congratulations on your second album release. What was the inspiration behind POWER?
There is a 10 year gap between my first and second album, and it’s the reason behind the title of the album. The title is a true manifestation of my power as an artist. Within this gap, I was creating the album and have been through five iterations of what it could’ve been. It was about finding my feet and figuring out what was the matured and evolved level of my creativity. With that, I became an independent artist and as an independent artist you have to find your own way in the music industry. It takes a lot of strength, resilience, and power to get to that place.
What moment influenced your decision to pursue music?
I have a successful marketing career and I find it to be easier than being a musician. Being a musician is not as easy as people may think. Logically, I don’t know why I keep returning, but spiritually I know I’m meant to be making music even if I fail or the results aren’t what I wanted them to be. Music is an indescribable calling and I don’t think any artist can fully explain why they decided to pursue music.
If you could choose your favourite song on the album, what would it be?
Egoli featuring Zwai Bala and Mothusi Thusi is hands down one of my favourites. Mothusi Thusi composed a lot of the songs on my first album and he composed Egoli too. He lives in California and he was missing home, so you can hear a lot of South African and folk elements. What I love about this song is that it tells a progressive story about a man who leaves his home in KZN to find a job in Joburg and eventually finds a new life in the city, leaving his wife behind. It’s a dramatic song, because it starts as a dialogue and ends in an argument between male and female. Vocally, Zwai and Mothusi came through strongly in that concept.
What have been the biggest highlights of your career?
Reflecting on my career, there have been so many incredible moments that have shaped me as an artist. One of the biggest highlights is my POWER album launch. It was exceptionally mind blowing. My team and I spent months and weeks planning and rehearsing for it, but nothing could’ve prepared me for how incredible the outcome would’ve been. It made all the hardships worth it.
Not to mention performing on stage. There’s something truly magical about that experience – the energy in the room, the connection with the audience, and the way music can bring us all together. Doing a live performance of the songs was particularly special because it allowed me to tell the stories behind each song in a way that felt deeply personal while connecting, inspiring, and celebrating shared experiences through music.
Another moment in my career that particularly stood out for me was my decision to transition from being full-time employed to being self-employed and focusing on my music. It was a critical decision and something I’ve never done before.
What inspires your musical process?
My music usually stems from a feeling or something that I’m going through. Like many people, I journal, but sometimes I don’t know how to fully articulate myself through journaling, so I turn to writing songs. All of my songs are about personal experiences and it’s my way of expressing and working through my experiences. I allow the song to take its course. If it wants to be jazz, it will be jazz. If it wants to be R&B, it will be R&B. I tend to follow what the song wants.
What challenges have you faced throughout your musical journey?
My biggest challenge was my will to keep going. Being an artist is quite difficult and we carry a lot of self-doubt, anxiety, and sometimes depression. We go through periods of doubting our own creativity and talent, and when we eventually come out of that funk we create something amazing. Funding ourselves is one of the many challenges we face as independent artists, because we all have finite resources, but I’ve learned how to make things happen with what I have.
How do you stay motivated?
My faith and prayer. Being a person of faith is important to me. I believe that you can’t pray for something and not do anything about it. You have to follow the direction of your prayers. I hold myself accountable to my prayers.
Lately South African women have been dominating the music scene. How do you feel being part of the collective, and what’s your dream for yourself as a female artist?
Honestly, I think it’s about time. The likes of Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie worked hard against the grain to make their mark and make it possible for women in the music industry. As women in music today, we’ve reaped the rewards of their hard work, and though it’s still not easy for us, it has become much easier.
As a female artist, I want to be considered more than a South African musician. As an artist, you reach a stage where people no longer associate you with where you come from, but rather with your talent. For example, Thandiswa Mazwai will soon be considered as just an incredible musician rather than just a South African musician, because she has been such an influence for women in the music scene with her artistry. That’s what I want for myself.
