‘NOMA’S’ MUSICAL JOURNEY

As we prepare for the interview, I’m taken by her bubbly and warm personality, and suddenly I know that it will go down as one of the best interviews I have ever had, with a musician.

She warns me about her honesty, “You know I am awfully honest, so don’t mind some of my responses,” she says.
Well meet Nomalungelo Dladla, a vocalist with a voice that even today I cannot find the right words to describe.

She tells Gcwala about her music journey and how she has worked tirelessly to grow her brand and keep relevant.
She starts off with the fact that she has spent years trying to define Nomalungelo.
Well-rounded

“You know in all honestly it gets harder every year. The pressure of being a self-awe,; well-rounded artist gets more intense every year. The truth though is I am just a creative trying to own her space while navigating a very ruthless industry. I work hard, I push myself even harder and sometimes I am as clueless about life’s mysteries as the next person,” she said.

Musically, the talented vocalist comes from a lot of places; her singing debut was in church at age nine. Her career was kick- started by Claiming Ground records. They helped in launching her career back in 2010 when she worked on her album titled ‘Lilungelo Lami’.
 Since then she has gone on to further be groomed and moulded by some of the most amazing musicians.

“I have worked with some of Africa’s gems ie Ringo Madlingozi, Robbie Malinga, Musa, Mozambican star Chopper, guitarist to the stars Tshego, all of which played a very crucial role in Nomalungelo’s current sound,”

Bubbly

The sultry bubbly singer reveals that being a female anything is hard. She tells Gcwala that the truth is the misogynous ideals that have shackled women for years are alive and kicking in the music industry as well and that being a woman and trying to make your mark is tough; especially when so many people don’t believe women can get to the top with talent and brains alone.

“I guess that is still one of my favourite things about being a woman in this industry. I get to show other young women how far music can take you. I get to really challenge the stereotypes and honestly I love every minute of it. I try never compromising myself or my art to get ahead and that has been my winning formula for years,” she narrates.

After being taken to South Africa by a company called EMS in 2011, Dladla says it was a chance for her to get re-born and given a better understanding of her craft.

“South Africa is bigger, so musicians there get to really explore music and all its aspects. I got a good look at how to run and be part of entertainment houses that view music as a business. I am a better artist because of it. Growing a brand in a foreign country is no ‘walk in the park’.
‘‘You over extend yourself just trying to keep up with the culture, that keeps you sharp and in my case I do believe it gave me that competitive edge.

Power
‘‘I learnt a lot about eventing and events management which enabled me to engage events such as Hipnotik, Power Click and The Farai foundation charity drive in Swaziland as events co-coordinator.

‘‘Jam sessions are to a musician what a pen is to a writer, you might get by without them but it feels the realest with them. I love Jam sessions, I always tell my band to treat a show like one, because that’s really when musicians are the most honest. I am a big outdated when it comes to Jam session guides, but I try attending the ones I find out about. I will be at the So Fresh Lounge on January 28 with musos from Swaziland and Nelspruit doing our thing… everyone is free to join us.
‘‘Honesty makes a good jam session, just let God use you during a session and see what happens.
‘‘I came home because my father passed on. I needed time to figure out who and what I am without my parents.
Reprogramming
‘‘My first album spoke a lot about my family, I guess coming home was just me reprogramming myself.
‘‘My Goals are to make my brand iconic, finish my degrees and hopefully travel the world showcasing what Swaziland has to offer.
‘‘My talent has allowed me to dine with stars, and mingle with influential people. For that I will forever be indebted to music,’’ says the singer.

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