Terri Dunbar-Curran
ZAHARA’S previous album, Loliwe, sold half a million copies, and now, with her third studio album, Country Girl, she’s aiming to sell over a million. A goal that doesn’t seem so far fetched taking into account that it went gold in less than 20 hours.
“And we were over platinum in less than a month,” she says. “It’s my best work ever. I’ve grown so much, musically and through everything that’s been happening in my life.”
The 13-track album, released by TS Records, saw the Afro-soul musician once again team up with writer Robbie Malinga, and features tracks like Ntombenhle, Bomibami, Izintaba and Who I Am.
“All of your questions about my life will be answered on this album,” she says.
Zahara realises that, thanks to the title, many fans will automatically expect country music, but she stresses that it goes deeper than that. “It’s about knowing who I am, where I’m at and where I’m going. I’m still just a girl from the village,” she explains. “I have achieved a lot, a lot has happened in my life, but it’s still the same me and will always be.”
One of the main obstacles that could stand in the way of Country Girl hitting the million sales mark is piracy, something which is of great concern to Zahara and her creative team. “People are getting my albums for between R1 and R10 on the streets, when we put so much effort and money into them. With Loliwe I’m sure we would have sold more than a million if it wasn’t for piracy. And so many music stores are also closing because of it.”
She is driven by the desire to see Country Girl succeed to show those who pirate music that there are still loyal fans out there willing to support artists.
While all of the songs on the album are special to her, she is currently promoting the single, Imali, which she co-wrote with Sello “Chicco” Twala.
“It’s all about money. People fight about money, divorce over money, churches split over money.” And track 10, Country Child, she has dedicated to her younger brother.
In the rhythmic Ntombenhle, inspired by an old Xhosa folk song, she sings about love. And Okusha looks at second chances.
Fans across the country can look forward to performances over the next few months as she goes on tour with the album. “I always come to Cape Town,” she says, promising that her fans here will get the chance to enjoy her latest songs live. And they can also keep up to date with what she’s up to on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Stylistically, she wouldn’t say her music has changed much over the years. “But I believe with this one I have grown. The changes come with maturity,” she says, adding that her main priority is always writing music that will connect with listeners.
“It’s very different from Loliwe. And track 13, Stop the Music, if you heard it on the radio, you would never say it’s me,” she laughs.
Besides piracy, one of the biggest things Zahara faces on a daily basis are malicious rumours about her personal life. “Obviously they told me these things would happen. They will love me, then want to put me down. I do get hurt,” she says, but she doesn’t let it keep her down and is determined to succeed.
“I want to be seen as a game changer. I want to bring back the buying culture. I’m one of your own, a girl from the village. You should support musicians, not try to get them down,” she says. “I’m waiting for the day our nation embraces our own.”
l Follow her on Instagram @zaharasa, or Twitter @ZaharaSA