2020 was an incredible year for local songstress Busiswa. Not only has she dominated the dance charts, but she also featured in Beyoncé’s visual film ‘Black Is King’ where she performed her collaboration with the singer ‘My Power’ alongside fellow collaborators Moonchild Sanelly and Yemi Alade. But, if you thought this busy year would mean that the star wouldn’t release new music in time for summer, you’re mistaken. In fact, she’s dropped a whole album as she premieres ‘My Side Of The Story’.
The album is an ode to black women everywhere. The project is a personal one for the star as she gives a deeply personal account of her experience of living life in the public eye and living in the toxic world of social media where she is both praised and ridiculed on the daily.
“This project was about me taking back ownership of my own story. It’s an album of hope and being brave enough to live life on your own terms. In this age of social media, to often fiction becomes facts and the court of public opinion deems you guilty,” Busiswa tells us.
She adds “I’ve been called it all, slut-shamed, body-shamed, physically and emotionally abused, if there’s a t-shirt for it, I’ve probably got it. It took me a long time to realise that those past experiences don’t define me and that the opinions of others are exactly that…opinions.”
In true Busiswa fashion, the 12-track album is an eclectic mix of dance genres from Afro house, amapiano, gqom and kwaito and sees her narrate stories of the joys, pain and challenges of being a black woman in this modern age.
“The album’s mix of sounds is reflective of me and the kind of music that I enjoy. I don’t believe that as artists we should be pigeonholed into one genre. I love music in general and want to share with my fans the kind of music and content that I enjoy,” the star continues. “What I want people to take from this album is to live their own truths and to own their success and failures. No one has this life thing figured out, we all just trying our best. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you get it wrong. It’s all part of the journey.” concludes Busiswa.
In an Instagram post detailing a behind-the-scenes look at the album cover shoot, Busiswa says that “We shot my album cover at home during lockdown (level 3) and I’m so proud to have a team that does what needs to be done no matter what! We wanted a cover with power, impact & a little light-heartedness about the way we scrutinise each other in this day & age on various platforms.”
Listen to ‘My Side Of The Story’ below and read more music news here.
