Pearl Thusi discusses her purposeful journey into music with debut single 'Sodwa'

A true 'Jill of all trades', Pearl Thusi has already made her mark in acting, entrepreneurship, and DJing, and is now extending her reach by venturing into the world of music as a singer.

Thusi has come out with a debut single, “Sodwa”, released on Thursday, November 27, and features Maskandi legend Ihashi Elimhlophe. 

“Sodwa” is a love song that celebrates all types of love, whether platonic or romantic. Thusi added that it’s a song for friends and for single people at weddings, dancing their truth.

She spoke to “Independent Media Lifestyle” about how and why she felt ready to explore a different side of herself.

Music is not something new to the 37-year-old all-rounder. It’s something she grew up around. Her late father, who she describes as “the Lionel Richie of the family”, played bass guitar in a small band, and her home was always filled with instruments and melodies.

She said she always had a love for music. Thusi tried entering music in her twenties, but the industry was different back then. 

“I felt like, no, I don’t sound like Mariah Carey, I don’t sound like Whitney Houston. Who the hell do I think I am?”

Seeing entertainers like Nomuzi Mabena and Boity Thulo step into music even though they started in completely different parts of the industry is one of the things that inspired Thusi.

Eventually, she reached a point where the fear of not trying felt heavier than the fear of failing.

“There is nothing worse than the regret of not trying,” she explained, reflecting on a shift that pushed her into the recording studio.

Thusi did not take the casual route either, speaking on how she thinks her song will be received, she shared that she built a full studio in her home and has spent the past four years recording, experimenting, and stripping away fear.

“I’m not scared of the music not doing well. I’m not making it for that. I mean, I’ve built a studio in my home. That’s how serious I am about this.

With more music ready, she trusted her team’s suggestion that “Sodwa” had the right energy to introduce her to the world as a musician. The DJ shared that she will be releasing a follow-up single in February 2025.

“Sodwa” has found its lane, and with an unexpected feature that is sure to surprise many on their first listen. 

Her collaboration with Ihashi Elimhlophe (real name Bheki Ngcobo) on the song surprised even some of her industry peers, such as Kabza De Small, who was left shocked after Thusi told him about it.

When asked how the collaboration came to life, she shared that she’s good friends with the Ngcobo family and reached out to his family, sent him a few songs, and waited. 

“He said he really loved ‘Sodwa’ and wanted to record it,” she recalled. The moment was emotional for her, especially because her father didn’t live to see it. “He would’ve been proud,” she said.

She shared how much this kind of cosign really means something to her, adding that it was important for her to work with a legend whose influence is rooted in culture rather than trends.

Her DJ experience definitely played a role in how she approached the song. She is more aware of musical structure now, how breaks work, and what makes a track easier for DJs to play.