South African rising star Zee Nxumalo is carving her own lane in the music industry, blending talent, authenticity, and versatility. With her hit track Mamma dominating playlists and fans rallying behind her sound, Zee is proving she’s more than just a one-hit wonder—she’s an artist ready to leave a lasting impact.
Speaking to Drum, Zee shared her excitement about the success of her latest single. “Mamma is doing very well, and the people love it, so the noise around the song is motivating for me; it’s kind of a demand and supply thing, so I will definitely supply,” she said.
When asked about the inspiration behind experimenting with classical elements, Zee credited Dlala Thukzin for shaping her current sound. She recalled recording Ama Gear:
“I had absolutely no idea that I could match the beat he made, but I did. I freestyled on that song, and some of the lyrics I’m singing there don’t make sense, but the song became a hit.” From there, she went on to create Imali, which gave her the confidence to develop her own style.
Though she missed the chance to collaborate with the late Zahara, Zee now has her eyes set on international names. “Zahara really would have made a perfect fit, but now I want to take my collaborations to Africa, and the likes of Rema, Davido, and Omah Lay are who I’m aiming for.”
Interestingly, Zee Nxumalo admitted that she never planned to do Amapiano. “Amapiano chose me, and I didn’t choose this genre. I didn’t like it.
My first love was Afro-Pop, and I did Amapiano because of the market, and my biggest hit comes from the genre.” She explained that she often freestyles in the studio, and those spontaneous moments turn into chart-topping songs.
Despite her success, Zee said she doesn’t allow pressure to affect her. “I never feel any pressure because I know and understand songs will never do the same when it comes to numbers.” Instead, she focuses on versatility and adapting to different styles. “Times evolve and things change… being versatile allows one to stand the test of time.”
On dealing with negativity, Zee Nxumalo stressed the importance of self-awareness. “People say many things online, but knowing yourself is very crucial… just know your strengths, weaknesses and abilities so that whenever people discredit you, you know you’re rooted.”
She also touched on the royalties battle with SAMRO, urging young artists to educate themselves. “When you release a song, you need to be knowledgeable about SAMRO because you’ll need that knowledge when your song makes it big… there are rights to songs, so you need to know these things and not just be happy you’ve made a hit.”
Encouraging aspiring artists, Zee shared a message of hope: “It does get better, and it is only just the beginning.”
