Vusi Nova on turning pain into art in new single, Phendula - ‘The hurt was raw'

News24

18-06-2025

No soulful sound is too tough for him to crack.
For over ten years now, Vusi Nova has flexed his musical muscle.From his 2013 debut album, Walk Into Light and his 2014 work of art, Did It For Love, he cemented himself as a profound vocalist in the mainstream music space.
By the time he released Naninina, which was his third album, he had all of us sitting down attentively through Ndikuthandile and Thandiwe.
From there, he's given us As'phelalanga and many other chart toppers, such as gospel song with Dumi Mkokstad, Yibanathi.
The award-winning musician is now back with a milestone-marking love song, Phendula.
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'Phendula is an ode to those healing from a broken heart, it captures the magic of falling deeply in love and then being heartbroken - the regrets, moments, and questions. Phendula was inspired by real heartbreak - those painful moments when love lets you down again and again. It's about turning that pain into something beautiful and healing through music,' Vusi Nova says.
He adds that the song is an intimate ballad that has already won the hearts of his fans since the release of the teaser a few weeks ago.
'I want people listening to the song and that have been heartbroken to feel understood and validated, like someone finally put their heartbreak into words. Even in the sadness, I hope they find comfort and strength, knowing they're not alone,' Vusi Nova adds.
When writing the lyrics of the song, he admits to having been deep in his feelings.
'The hurt was raw, but I turned pain into art. I'm healed, stronger, and proud of turning struggle into something beautiful.'
Over the years, his sound has evolved from just being crudely raw, stripped-down, with just him and his emotions, figuring it out.
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'Now my sound is richer and more layered but still keeping that realness. I feel it's all growth without losing the soul.'
Despite the new waves of sound taking over the music industry, he remains true and consistent to his own.
'It's the sound of my story, my people's struggles, and our joy. Raw, unfiltered, human, my roots and my realness. Afro-soul isn't just music, it's medicine. When fans say it mends their heart. That's the mission. It has the power to heal. The genre bends but never breaks, and there's room to fuse tradition with tomorrow. That's freedom, and that keeps me motivated.'
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His journey has pivoted him into owning a recording label of his own as well, Nova Sounds, which houses upcoming artists in the Afro-pop and Afro-soul fraternity.
'Running my label has been liberating but wild at the same time. I like building a plane while flying it. More control, more headaches, but zero regrets. Every win hits deeper 'cause it's yours. I've been making money moves – funding projects while staying independent is a hustle. It comes with wearing all hats – From A&R to promo, the grind never stops. I've had to break through gatekeepers without major backing. However, the highlights are having creative freedom – dropping music my way, no compromises. Helping other artists shine fuels me. And the small wins have been rewarding.'
Thus far, his highlight for the year has not only been hosting his first solo show – The Black Tie which he intends to turn into an annual project but also watching his artists drop albums and singles, watching them soar, and gifting the streets with more music feels great.