Nanette is embracing her identity through music and culture
Musician Nanette
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South African singer and songwriter Nanette is a woman who knows who she is and is firm in her understanding of her culture and identity.
People have previously confused Nanette with being coloured and she never shies away to correct them. Nanette comes from a multicultural family, with a Zulu mother and a Xhosa father whose mother was classified as Coloured.
During high school, Nanette experienced a bit of an "identity crisis" and turned to her father to help her deal with the emotions of one group of people treating you like you're not black enough and one group of people treating you like you're not part of them.
“Because you don't speak their language, your hair doesn't look like this or whatever.”
Her father's explanation of her lineage, particularly that in African culture, "you are what your father is," helped her embrace her identity as a Xhosa woman.
“We come from a line of very powerful men, my dad’s father, my grandfather literally was one of the most popular poets, and he was part of translating the Xhosa dictionary into English and Afrikaans vice versa.
“After that conversation with my father he really just put every sort of confusion I had at bay because at the end of the day I know my lineage and I know the people that I come from and those people know themselves and those people have created their own culture and their own sense of family that doesn't have to be dictated by other people.”
Nanette isn't playing society's playbook when it comes to her views on race, she’s a proud black woman, raised by black women. “The first language I ever spoke was Zulu. It wasn't English.”
Nanette is big on family, she has a song called “Abazali” which is an ode to her father, her mom, step mom, her dad's wife, grandmother, and late aunt, who all played a role as a community in raising her.
The musician was raised by her mom’s mother, a proud Zulu woman who was a diligent nurse for over 30 years. “Ndingu’mntana ka makhulu,” she beams with pride. (I am my grandmother’s child)
The song aims to promote discipline, nurture, and respect for elders, making "being good to our parents cool again."
The RnB musician in August released a new project called “Painfully Happy” her journey in music has been good but not without challenges.
“I always have such an almost unrealistic standard that I put myself to, so when I don't hit it, I get so disappointed in myself and I sometimes get stuck in that feeling, but the journey's been so great.
“The journey has been really heartwarming. in every sense of the word. I've met so many people who might not have known how much their words affected me in the best way possible and gave me just like a bit more push to go.”
A true songwriter, Nanette's career is "literally shaped on writing camps," which she has been doing for a long time, with some of her biggest songs originating from them.
Nanette explained that she enjoys writing camps because, despite appearing extroverted, she is shy and they provide an intimate setting to collaborate with other artists without external pressures.
She worked with Blackie on the song "Talk to Me" at a writing camp. Blackie had already started the song, and she joined in. Due to Blackie's schedule not allowing for R&B releases at the time, he gave her the song to release, which became one of her biggest songs and her most-viewed video on YouTube.
Nanette worked with famed music producer Andre Harris on the song “Make it Dance” on her project “Painfully Happy”. The American songwriter and record producer, he is behind Kehlani’s smash hit “Folded”.
The collaboration came about through her management/label, ACA Africa Creative Agency, and a partnership with Exodus Entertainment. Nanette expresses immense admiration for Harris, acknowledging his influence on her as an artist through his work with artists like Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and D'Angelo.
Meeting Harris taught Nanette the importance of "playing the long game" in her career to achieve legendary status. “I need to be good to people, I need to respect those around me and just keep my head down and keep working.”
Nanette is preparing for a big live show at the end of October, which she describes as a "dope" and "stressful" process. She loves live music and considers this her favourite part of the job. “I can't wait for people to hear the music. It's sounding really great.”
A special duo named MandiFeze is a vibrant music and performance duo formed in 2023 by Mandisa Nomalungelo Yende and Lufezo Yamandumo Bovungana, who focus on folk-inspired music about healing and personal growth, will be joining her.
“I want people to come there and feel like they were able to have a conversation with themself that sparked healing that will last forever. If I can do that with singing my story and then being able to see that personal and up close then I've done my job.”