Award-winning gospel artist and pastor Khaya Mthethwa has released his third gospel offering this week, titled All About Jesus.
The 11-track album, which features his church’s musical group, Oasis, is a focus on Jesus while also reflecting the maturity of the artist as he focuses on opening up the industry for others to experience what he has come across for the past 10 years.
“I came into the industry very young, highly energetic and very experimental, but I think now with this album, it is very simple,” says the season 8 Idols winner.
“My album carries simple lyrics, simple melodies and a lot of sing-along tunes.”
Having hit a decade in the industry, the star says he is more settled and comfortable in who he is and is not here to prove anything to anyone.
He says he hopes that when people listen to the album, somehow, their lives will be transformed.
Khaya, who is married to former Miss South Africa Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, feels that he now has reached a place in his career and life where he is more mature and has come to the fullness of who he is.
“My outlook is more about the people around me. Being a help, opening doors, producing for other people.
“That is where my focus is at. Like I said, I am older now and really don't want the attention all on me. That is why I am touring with them (Oasis) and I am not the only one who is doing interviews. I felt like the time was right to open up the opportunities,” he adds.
Khaya Mthethwa is touring with his church's musical group, Oasis. Picture supplied
Khaya attributes reaching the point where he is more focused and centred to his parents and their guidance.
That has also encouraged him to keep the right people around him, to be able to manage his business, music and his calling as a pastor.
“I don’t know how I keep the balance, till this very day. I think the grace of God has been sufficient for me,” he said laughing.
“Sometimes you’ll feel out of balance, but it is more about prioritising specific things at specific moments in your life, and that is really about having the right people around you that are going to give you a tug over the shoulder saying, maybe let’s prioritise this for now. That is how we have been able to bring the balance in my life.”
All About Jesus is aimed at bringing people closer to Jesus, he explains, while also shifting the focus away from personal issues but to who He (Jesus) is.
His personal song, Awaken, speaks of who he was when he entered the industry, “living a life where I was being pulled in different directions and was at a very shallow place in my life”.
“Although every weekend I had to perform and be this Christian, amazing guy, I wasn’t there and would go day to day aimlessly trying to please people, trying to be this goodie-goodie guy, whereas I knew I was not."
This song for him represents how God changed his life, awakening him to his purpose for which God made him, so that he does not settle for a shallow life.
“It was about taking of a façade, a life built on materialism and just waking up to knowing that I am in God and God is in me,” he said.
@AmandaMaliba