03-07-2025
5 minutes with Afro-jazz artist Zethembiso ‘Zethe' Zimela
Zethembiso 'Zethe' Zimela hails from Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal. Zethe is an emerging Afro-jazz artist blending jazz, soul and urban traditional African sounds.
Her music is rooted in advocating for mental health and social justice, using her voice to inspire change and unity through art.
We get to know more about the singer.
What's the story behind your latest album, Breathe?
Breathe is more than just an album; it is a personal journey of healing and reflection. The music is composed to serve as a form of medicine, ikhambi, which provides solutions to the myriads of issues we face in our daily lives – breathing amid the chaos, reclaiming our humanity, summoning courage, nurturing hope, and finding solace in love and prayer. Ultimately, the music in this album carries therapeutic musical strategies on mental health, serving as both a mirror and a remedy for the soul. Therefore, I invite listeners to breathe as they go through personal life journeys and take their healing (ikhambi) in this album, as each track offers a dose of insight, comfort, hope, and strength.
What message do you hope listeners get from it?
It's music that speaks to the soul, encouraging listeners to pause, exhale and embrace their healing journey. I hope listeners can apply the message to their everyday lives and connect with it. The album explores themes of mental health, healing, and human connection. Tracks like Ukukhanya (there's light), Uthando (a love letter) and the titular Breathe showcase Zethe channelling her journey of healing into music that mirrors the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit.
What was the creative process for this album?
It's been a three-year journey. I write thoughts and feelings, come up with melodies separately from them, and put the writings to the melody. The lyrics are mostly from my journal, true, vulnerable and honest moments.
Did you face any challenges while making it?
I'm a perfectionist and that played a big role in why this album took longer to complete. I had a clear vision of how I wanted every detail – each note, lyric, and emotion – to come together. It wasn't just about finishing a project; it was about ensuring that the music fully reflected my artistic expression and the message I wanted to share. Taking my time allowed me to refine every element, making sure it felt authentic, meaningful and true to my journey.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Zethe Zimela (@zethe_z)
Did you collaborate with any other artists or producers?
I worked with a great South African pianist Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane who took his time when he was helping me produce this album. The album consists of 12 musical contributors (instrumentalists and vocalists). Right now, I'm fascinated by the power of sound and how it connects with emotions and healing. This deeply influences my work, as I want my music to be more than just songs – it should be an experience that speaks to the soul, offering comfort, motivation, and a space for personal introspection.
Do any of the songs hold a special personal meaning for you?
The first song in the album is titled Ukukhanya. It is an appeal for a breakthrough, a request for light to shine in our lives so we can see clearly, whether it's to see ourselves, others or the path ahead. Sometimes, we are the ones dimming our light through self-sabotage. This is a prayer, asking for the light to shine so we can truly live. It is also a promise that better days will come.
Liberating, beautiful and entertaining.
