ENTERING THE NEW DECADE EMPOWERED

Multi-award winning singer, songwriter, guitarist and music producer, Gugulethu “Berita” Khumalo, 28, shares her past year wins and her five-year plan

- ZIZIPHO MQINGWANA

One of my biggest career highlights was releasing songs through my record label, Assali Music, in 2019.

That has always been my top priority. As for 2020, I’m excited to release my first full-length album through my label. I haven’t come up with the title yet. I’m also in the process of buying the master rights to my music from my previous record label for songs like Thandolwethu, meaning I’m going to be owning my songs. I entered the 2020 decade feeling very empowered. I wake up every day and dome because the ball is in my court.

I’ve never been employed by someone else — I’ve always worked for myself.

Butonehorror story that comes to mind is that of a gig I once did. Because I play a guitar, there needs to be a microphone stand to hold up the microphone as I sing. However, when I got to this particular festival, they didn’t have a microphone stand forme. I think that’s because it was a festival with mostly DJs and rappers. I guess the festival organisers were trying to cut costs and decided not to get the microphone stand. The last time I was in such a situation was when I was still up-and-coming and I would have to get someone to hold the microphone for me while I sang. Back in the day, I would have wished to throw down a smoke bomb and disappear. However, now that I’m a bit older, I try to be mature about it.