SelfServiceSeries___Busiswa Gqulu___

Is your family musical? No. We’ve always had a regular sound system with a small collection, nothing serious. At the sound of the word music, who or what comes to mind? It’s indescribable. So many vast things come to mind.  I can’t imagine life without it.  It’s my hero!
What is your fondest musical memory?Making up songs in boarding school and performing them at the weekend concerts we would hold in our room, with the beds stacked together.

Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones. Not really.  You can safely say I was a late bloomer when it comes to music.  I used to wish I could be one of those people who can say, “my parents tell me I would perform for the mirror for hours in my fairy-costume when I was two.”  I just grew a love in my teen years, from whatever was popular then: Boom Shaka, Brandy, Queen Latifah, Salt n Pepa, TLC, Mariah Carey, Tupac ...

How do you handle mistakes during a performance? If it’s the kind that an audience can’t know about, I just move along swiftly.  If it’s undeniable and too big to hide I just laugh at myself and bring it right back.  I never apologise.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – friends, spiritual life, job and other activities? I don’t.  I’m not extremely organised.  Whenever possible I just do what I want to do at that particular time, and the important things in my life find their own spaces and slot themselves in.
Where do you source your strength to keep pushing and doing what you love? I don’t see it as something I need to find strength to do; from doing what I love, I get strength to do all the other things we have to do.

Define music? I can’t.  I wouldn’t have the words.

I have noticed that this is a challenging industry and people are always on the look for New and upcoming fresh talent, how do you plan on keeping the crowds supporting  as time goes on? Crowds come and go.  I embrace that.  I appreciate them in a big way because as artists we usually always have the aim of sharing.  Seeing support is very encouraging and inspiring.  However I always tell myself that if the work I have created is pleasing to me, there is definitely someone else out there who will find it pleasing too.  I also hold true a sentiment I read a while back.  I can’t remember the exact quote and author but it said something like: when God gifts you with a talent, it is not your duty to ask why or to even compare it with the talents of others.  Yours is simply to offer to the world in accordance with the will of God. 

What scares you the most about your future in music? Not selling records and getting dropped by the label
What excites you? Travelling the world to experience different types of musical and cultural expression.

How do handle the pressure behind women and image as a performer? As I’ve also noticed you cut your hair and went bold, do you ever feel the pressure to always be on point and looking good? Like every other girl out there I feel good when I look good.  As long as I look in the mirror and click the “like” button in my head, I figure it’s all good.  Having stylish girlfriends there to consult with also helps.  What you don’t know is that I styled myself for the video and I think that emanates from understanding what looks good on me and what I want to look like.  I haven’t yet been confronted with “pressure” to conform to any societal ideas of women performers.  I think there is a shift in these ideas, particularly in Africa and I’m glad to say that people seem increasingly concerned with the quality of the work you put out and perform these days.  Proof is in that the biggest artists right now are ladies like Adele and Zahara.  Both of them stay fully clothed, don’t conform to ideas of looking and acting a certain way for the public eye.  It’s their authenticity that has taken them to the top.  I’ll gladly take their cue and just do me.

Give me a line from an old-school jam you love. “U.N.I.T.Y/You better let em know/You’re not a b**ch or a hoe” – U.N.I.T.Y by Queen Latifah

Complete this sentence. Happiness is… ...So elusive!

Describe your style with clothing. I’m not very fashion-forward so I don’t really have “a style”.  I think of my style as what is comfortable, suitable, functional or looks good at the time.  I do find that I’m usually drawn to natural materials like cotton and linen and leather; ethnic accessories like beads and handmade jewels.  I think I have a cosmopolitan look which is always with an original African sentiment.

What do you think inspires the inspiring? The understanding that once you stop creating, you are done for. This, and a higher power.