LULU Dikana was still deciding whether to record and sign with a new label when her sister Busisiwe died.
“I had just started writing again when tragedy struck,” said the Afro-soul singer.
“After my second album I didn’t want to record again. Then my wonderful sister, Zonke, suggested to Sony that they sign me. She always wants me next to her. She wanted me by her side. We grew up very close and throughout our professional lives we have been together. We were at Kalawa Jazmee and then Native Rhythm Records.”
Though she went through a painful grieving process she did not want her album to be sad.
“I took my time,” she said.
The result is the largely self- produced album, I Came to Love.
“I called in a pianist named P Keys and sang to him what I wanted to hear. I’ve always been producing.
“I just decided to do what I want to do. This country loves dance, often to the detriment of other genres. I have stuck to my sound and I want to achieve real success with this album. I want fellow South Africans to be proud that a young lady has written and produced such good work herself.”
Lulu is a highly spiritual woman, with God leading her every step of the way. The album’s theme is love songs to God, but not in a typical gospel way.
“I realised that I need to own love. I came here to love. That is why I am here. We are all here for a reason. Sadly, some people leave not knowing why they were here. I want to love through my music. I want to fulfil my purpose through music.
“Nobody writes love songs for God. Do we know who Love (God) is? He is the beginning and the end of all things. He is the originator of love. If people write songs about their lovers, then I am sure I can write songs about Love Himself.
“I wrote a song called Live My Life because I realised that I had to live my life due to my sister’s death. I wanted so much not to write about pain, but to write honest music. Love was the constant thing and through that I was able to write this album so easily.
“Sometimes it would be hard, though. I would get to the studio and nothing would happen. Zonke would be thinking that I am, to use Oskido’s words, ‘rocking it’ and I would tell her nothing was happening. But that’s how it was.”
Her first single, Falling Deeper, has been released as a house remix by Nastee Nev and people are loving it. In fact, the melody lends itself perfectly to that deep house sound, as if it was written as a house song.
Songs like Love Explosion have that ’70s funk feel, while Lover Inside is a comforting, kitschy ballad with that Sunday afternoon feel.
It’s All About You has big production and shows off Dikana’s powerful voice, while You Rule My World has a thicker production and Dikana singing in her soulful voice.
It is her talent that has her opening for John Legend at the Coca-Cola Dome in Joburg for three nights.
“John Legend is my No 1. He does soul, but has crossed over and everybody is accepting of his soul craft. His melody, his voice, his piano playing, he’s everything I want to be.
“I received an e-mail saying Big Concerts wants me to open for him. I had to wait for the reply from his management, and for those three months I meditated. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone, but of course, I told my sister. Then when I heard that I was going to be the only opening act and his shows were extended to three shows, I was so excited.”
Despite her difficulties in life which also included a severe illness in her digestive tract just before she recorded her first album, Lulu Dikana is firm in her faith.
“There are so many forces out there. With this music, it’s my way of getting to the people and when I do I have something to say. My faith has always been very strong – stronger than my problems. At the same time, I am not unaware that there are forces out there.”