KK comes clean with My Truth

Kelly Khumalo

Kelly Khumalo

Published Feb 13, 2017

Share

She is one of the country's most underrated stars when it comes to her talent, but singer and actress Kelly Khumalo is better known as slain sport star Senzo Meyiwa’s girlfriend and the mother of convicted rapper, Jub Jub Maarohanye's daughter.

With her name splashed in tabloids because of who she is or isn’t dating, it’s easy to forget that she is actually an award-winning singer.

With six albums under her belt and a career spanning over a decade Khumalo is no newbie or comeback queen. The Cape Times spoke to her about her seventh and latest album, My Truth.

“I started recording the album in March (last year) and it usually takes me about two to three months to record an album, but this time it took a little longer, which is a little weird, but I think it took a while because I was very pedantic about how I wanted it to sound and who I wanted to work with," Khumalo said.

She said although the album took longer than expected to record, it was a very easy process because of the messages it contained.

“This album is specifically called My Truth because that is exactly what it is, it is my truth. I needed the people I was working with to understand that, and because it’s my truth it was easy. I mean no one can challenge what my truth is, the truth never changes. I have never been this raw with my fans.

“Initially I wanted to have eight songs because a lot of the time, as artists we make so many songs on an album and we don’t get to push all of them and honestly, producing a great song is expensive, making music isn’t cheap so I did not want to have that situation, I wanted to be able to push all my songs but God had other plans and we ended up with 13 songs,” Khumalo said.

On some of the truths in her album, Khumalo said they were truths that everyone could relate to.

“One of the important truths in this album is that you will not find another me, you can search high and low but you simply won’t, and that is not coming from a place of arrogance, but honestly, no two people are the same. There is also the truth of hope and love. You know we all find home in someone else, and that’s the truth,” she said.

She says that although she loves every song on her album, there are two that are very special to her.

“My songs are like my children, they all hold a special place in my heart so I love all of them, and I think every artist will tell you that but Testimony and Onje Ngam’ are very special to me because I am thankful to God for my testimony and for his love and grace in my life, and also for him to getting me to this point in my life where I do not actually worry about what people have to say about me, it’s a great feeling.

“And Onje Ngam’ is special because as the song says, you won’t find another me, the song is about finding that special love that compares to no other, and I think we have all experienced that at some point or another,” she said.

My truth has received rave reviews and was recently nominated for Best Female Album at the upcoming Metro FM Music Awards.

“I was a little nervous at first because I have never been so vulnerable in my music. I am glad they appreciate my honesty because I am not a billboard, I am not perfect. I am also excited about the nomination and I hope I win, but it’s not about awards for me.”

Khumalo was also recently announced as a guest judge on Season 13 of Idols SA and featured alongside Season 12 runner-up Thami Shobede on his hit single Sthandwa.

“Performing with Thami on the Idols stage was great, but right now I am at a very selfish point in my life, it’s all about me, I would not want to mentor anyone on a full-time basis,” she said.

Khumalo said 2017 would be a very busy year for her: “This year I have an international movie coming out called Zulu Wedding, I will be on Rhythm City and I will also be releasing a live DVD, so I am very excited about the months ahead”, she said.

Related Topics: