South African music lovers are in for a heartfelt musical journey as award-winning singer Vusi Nova prepares to drop his highly anticipated new album Promises on Friday.
The 13-track project is a blend of emotion, honesty and unmistakable rhythm and marks Vusi's second release under his independent label Nova Sounds.
Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Vusi opened up about creating the album.
“Writing this album has been a rollercoaster of emotions. I had to tap into feelings that were blocked out a long time ago and revisit that space. With that said, writing and singing about my life experiences is therapeutic.”
The album features a powerful line-up of collaborations, including with US soul singer Anthony Hamilton and local talents 047, Kwanda, Ssips, Nathan and PTK Music.
From the deeply reflective to the spiritually uplifting, Promises is Nova’s way of sharing stories that are often left untold in mainstream music. He explains the title represents far more than just romantic commitments.
“Promises, or Izithembiso, is my way of honouring the promises we make to ourselves, the ones we receive from God, and the strength we find in knowing He always keeps His word.”
The album follows the success of his August single Phendula, which gave fans a taste of the emotional depth and vocal finesse they can expect in the full project.
“I started working on some of these songs a long time ago and just kept them because I wasn’t ready to share them,” said Vusi. “Or it wasn’t the right time. Some of the songs I did recently.”
As he takes on the dual role of artist and label head, Promises also reflects the challenges and triumphs of running his own ship in the industry. He says he's proving there's still room for music that doesn’t compromise on meaning.
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