South
African trending Songbird and Afro-soul powerhouse, Brenda Mtambo, opens her
heart to Evolution of Style, Fashion and Events. Born and schooled in Umlazi,
south of Durban, and later moved to Johannesburg to finish her studies in
Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting. Her big break in the music scene landed
when she joined the award winning gospel group Joyous Celebration and since
then she has never looked back.
We
chat to her about her humble beginnings, living her dream, her debut album, the
future and fashion!
SM:
Brenda, Thank you for affording us few minutes of your hectic schedule to do
this interview:
BM:
Thank you so much for having me.
1. SM: Firstly, can we rewind to a
couple of years back and tell us who Brenda was 5 years ago? (in terms of the
dreams you had? State of your life then?)
BM:
Brenda Mtambo has always been an ambitious, driven and dedicated lady, I look
back 5 years and I am amazed at what I see, simple because I can see some of
the things I dreamt of now happening, some are yet to come. So, I would say, I
have always been ambitious inspite of everything.
2. SM: Now, coming back to 2013,
currently who is Brenda Mtambo?
BM:
Brenda is a girl from Kwazulu Natal with a vision to better her life, with a
vision to inspire other people, with a vision to change her story. I can give
you my background history but that still won't define who I am, I believe life
is a journey and I am on my journey and unfolding every day.
3. SM: Between now and 5 years ago,
do you have any regrets about your career and how your life has turned out?
BM:
Absolutely Not!!! I believe everything happens for a reason, I won’t say i have
never made mistakes, but I can say I have learned a lot of things throughout
the years; my life has turned out to be a dream that is still unfolding. I have
always wanted to be doing me and now I am granted that opportunity and I am
grateful.
4. SM: I saw an article about you in
the Daily Sun two weeks ago, titled “her voice cannot be matched” and I totally
agree with the reporter, so when did your love for music begin?
BM:
It began at an early stage of my life, back in KZN, I have always loved
singing. I remember, we used to sing in my granny's bedroom and she will be so
annoyed lol! But that experience made me realize I have something special, I
never stopped. Throughout high school I continued such that everybody knew who
I was at high school coz I was always singing, so this music thing has always
been part of me and now I am here.
5. SM: I have seen you performing on
stage and you are incredible, what does it feel like the moment you jump on
stage?
BM:
Let me be honest with you, I am always nervous before I get on stage, I shake,
I pray ohhh lord!!! I do voice exercises and jump sometimes LOL!! But the
minute I’m on stage I feel at home just because I love doing what I do. I can't
actually describe what happens the minute I am on stage, it’s an experience
every time I am on stage. I don't consider what I have done before, I take each
moment as it is and pour my heart like it's the first time. I love doing what I
do and I do it from my heart.
6. SM: Where do you draw your
inspiration from?
BM:
I draw my inspiration from God, from understanding the fact that I am designed
for a specific purpose and only I can fulfil that purpose.
7. SM: Did you always know that you
would end up being one of South Africa’s highly commended artists?
BM:
I wouldn’t say I knew, but I desired to be and even now I desire to be
more of what I am.
8. SM: You have worked with some of the
best and highly respected artists in the country, such as Hugh Masekela, Lira,
Judith Sephuma, Mthunzi Namba , Ntokozo Mbambo and the list continues…How was
that experience like?
BM:
Amazing!!! I have learned a lot from everyone I have worked with, I have
acquired experience along the way, and good relationships too. South Africa is
rich with great talent and I believe there is so much we can all learn from
each other.
9. SM: Your debut album, Inspired,
beautifully packaged album and has been well received all around the country,
did you anticipate this feedback?
BM:
I didn't have expectations, however I prayed that people would relate to the
music and see their own lives through mine. The music comes from my heart, my
whole aim is that it touches somebody's heart too. The feedback just in a
month has been amazing I must say. And I would like to thank all the people who
support me and encourage me.
10.SM: Why the title, inspired? What
was the inspiration behind it?
BM: Inspired is a state of
my mind. I was in a very low state, felt like things were not happening for me,
I felt like certain things were not meant for me, I was literally depressed, it
took me to change the way I was thinking, to change what I was saying about
myself to get to inspired state of mind. During the time I was writing a lot of
things down, I realized that I am no longer complaining, but I am
complimenting, I realized how powerful that state changed my perception and
perspective of life. All of a sudden I had ideas, I was a happy, I saw failures
as opportunities to try again, I was inspired. It's that experience that made
me title my album Inspired!! And from that I am saying, sing and also be
inspired in your own life.
11.SM:Did you always know that your
debut album wasn't going to be gospel? Considering your background in gospel
with Joyous Celebration?
BM:
Yes!! Joyous Celebration was a great platform to shape my music career. I
always knew I was not going to sing gospel, I never even attempted to do
anything that will indicate I will do gospel. I know a lot of singers who grew
up in church and are R & B singers, jazz singers we can mention a lot. I am
one of those and I have always thought African music defines me best. Also,
through the years I realized that I can fuse soul, jazz and my African sounds
together to get my own tune.
12.SM: Can I be a little bit unfair to you...lol... What are your two favourite
songs in the album? I know this is like asking a mother to name her
favourite child...lol.
BM:
lol! Ya hey... I love all my songs, but All over now and Themba Njalo are
special :-)
13.SM: Really? Well, I have
listened to all the songs in your album, it happens to be the only cd in my car
these days, I have grown fond of the two particular songs “Themba Njalo” &
“ all over now” what was the inspiration behind these two songs?
BM:
lol! And those songs happen to be 2 songs I regarded as my favourite. This is
amazing. First of all thank u for loving the music, I am so happy to hear that.
Themba
Njalo is a Zulu
song simple means, don't lose Hope, I was encouraging myself, and I kept
singing "themba Njalo" chorus part over and over to myself, before
I knew it I sang all the song from my heart and boom I had a song.
All
over now! Is a
love song, simple when u have loved someone all your life and eventually u
realize it was not what you made it to be. I know lot of people can
actually relate to the song. The song is my own experience that I wouldn't want
to get into details with coz it's ALL OVER NOW!
14.SM: Out of the 14 songs in
the album, which one did you record first?
BM:
I recorded All I needed .
15.SM: Now let’s talk about
fashion, how big are you with fashion?
BM: Ohhhh laaaaalaaaaaa! I
love to look good. I wouldn't actually define my style, I wear what I feel like
wearing depending on the mood and what I feel. I believe when u dress up, u
telling us about your state of being. I am free! I wear what I feel when I feel
like.
16.SM: As an artist, do
you think image plays an important role in your career?
BM:
Definitely! As an artist you are a product, its important how you package
yourself.
17.SM: Bags or shoes?
BM:
Shoes!
18.SM: Winter Fashion/Summer
Fashion?
BM:
Winter! I love all boots, scarfs, hat and jacket combos, u can do so much in
winter.
19.SM: What has been your
greatest achievement so far?
BM: I can proudly say
recording my album. I have always wanted to have my own music playing on radio.
20.SM: What can we expect
from you in the future? Any upcoming gigs? Live recording maybe?
BM: I am at a
beginning stage right now, I aspire to be better, to sing more and I won’t
reveal a lot of things, I believe actions speak louder than words. People can
follow me on twitter and Facebook for all the details and future plans. Its my
dream to record live one day so I put it out there and believe God is
listening.
21.SM: How can people get in contact
with you for bookings?
BM: My office
bookings@brendamtambo.com or call 0733490480.
SM:
Thank you so much Brenda for chatting with us and we wish you all the best with
your career, we love and appreciate your talent and KZN is proud of you!
BM:
Thank you so much for this opportunity, I really appreciate it and thank you so
much for supporting me through out. I love KZN my home.
Inspired is available at Musica countrywide and on ITunes.
You can follow Brenda on Twitter:
@Brendamtambo and on Facebook: Brenda Mtambo (official)
