Oleta Adams’s love for SA is rooted in her freedom

American musician Oleta Adams sang at the Freedom Day celebrations on Friday.Picture: Nhlanhla Phillips/African News Agency/ANA

American musician Oleta Adams sang at the Freedom Day celebrations on Friday.Picture: Nhlanhla Phillips/African News Agency/ANA

Published Apr 29, 2018

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American gospel and soul singer Oleta Adams is in the country and she recently performed at the Freedom Day celebrations at the Sandton Convention Centre.

For Adams, sharing a day that is close to the hearts of many South Africans resonates with the struggles of African-Americans for their identities and against racism.

She says it’s a sign that we are still fighting for our freedom.

“Whatever was suffered here in South Africa, we have suffered in America. So I joined in with you because in fact I am ‘you’ (African) and you are me.

“So this is a ‘we’ thing,” she said during the short interview we were allowed with her.

“The celebration is important because we still need to get the message out to all of the African citizens to let them know how important it is to let their voices be heard by voting and understand what a privilege it is to be able to cast that vote.”

Adams said it was an honour to celebrate on the soil where legends such as the late Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela had lived and for her music to travel to all the borders to touch the hearts of so many people.

“And when you realise this fact, you see that the world is small after all. And technology has made it even smaller. I am just honoured to be recognised across the world and in Africa because Africans are a part of me, and I feel like I’m a part of Africa in my heart,” she said.

The growth of her career, which spans over two decades, is filled with a lot of music crossovers as she believes that is the real way to do music, not to “box yourself in but explore the music for what it is”.

Adams was raised in a Baptist church singing gospel music but trained in classical music.

The knowledge she acquired in both genres has allowed her the freedom of mastering whatever else that lay in the middle.

“I loved the fusion of all the genres of music. It gives you a little versatility, meaning I can bring something new to the party always,” she said.

“In my career, the gospel part of music has always been important because it taught me how to sing authentically and emotionally.

“The other taught me how to find the purity of the tone, the purity of music, how the words work for you and what a good composition is all about.”

Adams had to work for 17 years in the music industry before she gained recognition and got her first break. That long wait did not dampen her spirits because, like she says, music has given her a ticket into people’s lives.

“It has allowed me a ticket around the world,” she said.

“And because my music is not just one kind, I get a chance to sing anywhere. It is only in that way that I meet all kinds of people that helps me understand who I am.

“Just by looking at them, seeing that connection you realise that we all are connected,” she added.

She recently released her 8th album called Third Set, which was recorded in two and a half days.

“It was meant to be a live album but we couldn’t get the live thing to work so we went into the studio and ran it down and doing some songs you would not expect me to do.”

These songs include songs from Joni Mitchell and Nina Simone - all done in her style - and some gospel songs.

“It is a wide variety and does not have one theme,” she said.

“I did not want to do a traditional record where you have a single that is three minutes long.

“We did this one like it is live, you take your time with it and allow people to feel like they are there.

“We gave it a different treating, another way to just add another dimension to some of the songs we have done for so many years.”

At this present time, she says she is happy with who she is.

“When you sing to the people and they cry, saying thank you for helping them through difficult times, I don’t take that lightly.”

“I have never really wished to be younger again, I am happy where I am today. I have learnt to live in the moment.

“I am learning now to appreciate what it was that they (Tears for Fears) saw in me in the first place, and also learning to appreciate where I am today.

“It is a happy time, it is a wonderful time, it is a fulfilling time because I am not desperate and I can enjoy right now,” she said.

@AmandaMaliba

The Sunday Independent

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