Johannesburg — Zahara’s new album has been certified platinum — shipped 40 000 units — and she has the much sought-after plaque to show for it, but the songbird says she has nothing to prove to the naysayers.
SowetanLIVE
The 27 year-old has been subjected to a lot of negative criticism following news that she reached gold in less than 24 hours and platinum in just over two weeks, with a lot of people saying most of the album copies were bought by her boss Sbusiso “DJ Sbu” Leope.
“I don’t really need to explain myself and prove it to anyone [that I went platinum]. We brought back the culture of buying with Loliwe Music wasn’t really selling anymore with piracy at an all-time high,” Zahara maintains.
“I guess people are always going to challenge my selling, especially with all the amount of piracy in the country.
But it doesn’t bother me [people challenging that I went platinum] as long as people have their copies. I’m happy.”
Zahara’s 13-track third studio album Country Girl, yielding songs such as Imali, Impilo and Bomibam was released on September 25 this year.
Much like her previous two offerings Loliwe and Phendula, the album has already written its way into the history books, reaching gold status — selling 20 000 copies — in less than 24 hours.
But Zahara insists that making history was the last thing on her mind when she was recording the album.
“Like I always say, when I write my music I write to inspire people. It’s not about making hits, it’s not about anything else but it’s about inspiring, connecting and people hearing my voice. And when I say hear my voice, I mean lyrically,” Zahara points out.
“We didn’t even have a single out for this album. And the album went gold in less than 20 hours. If it was about hits, we would have done a single. It’s about music, because it’s what we love and we are looking to inspire people. I guess this is why it went gold in less than 24 hours and platinum in less than a month.”
The song Bengirongo featuring Robbie Malinga serves as the new single from the album and the music video for the song will debut Friday night on Live Amp on SABC 1 at 9pm.
Many have dubbed Nomvula hit-maker Nathi Mankayi as the “male Zahara” and Zahara says she is honoured by the comparison since she is a huge fan of the fellow Eastern Cape crooner.
With many South African artistes making a mark for themselves including herself, Nathi, Cassper Nyovest Filling Up the Dome and AKA getting nodded for countless international awards; Zahara says this is mainly because “South Africans are starting to own their artistes.”
Zahara reveals to SowetanLIVE that she is currently listening to Zonke’s new album and cannot wait for the new Adele to drop.
“He’s good [Nathi]. He’s a very good artist. I’m also listening to Zonke’s new album. I can’t wait for Adele’s new album. The soulfulness, I guess she and I always connect because of the soulfulness,” Zahara voices.
Away from the limelight, who is Zahara at home?