Afrosoul songstress BERITA has finally made a release of her much anticipated new studio album entitled “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT”.
BERITA captured the hearts and imagination of local music fans with her unique Afrosoul sound on her debut album “Conquering Spirit”, which was awarded gold sales status and spawned the major hit single “Thandolwethu”.
“SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT” expresses a multi-layered, Afro-soul styling that boasts rich melodies
and rhythms, expertly curated from a wide African music tapestry.
The new album boasts an impressive collection of new songs, mostly written by BERITA, with notable highlights including the lead single “Sukundixesha”, already charting on several major local radio stations. On “MwanaWa Mai (Revisited)” BERITA collaborates with two of Africa’s favoured
music giants in Oliver Mtukudzi & Grammy Award winning trumpeter/ composer, Hugh Masekela. “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT” was recorded and produced by Thami Mdluli at Studio 12 Recording
BERITA ON “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT”
“I wanted to make music that people can consciously dance to. Music that evokes happiness in
people and shares truth as well. Hence, the album title “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT”. I know that
people will relate to this album, because I sing about life as I know it. I personally struggle to find
strength in everyday life and I pray daily for strength from God. I pray too that these songs give
strength to people from all walks of life”.
“On the new album, I sing about personal struggle, to find worth, patience through hard times. I
have a song about true love, a song about the return of a long-lost loved one, a song about the
death of a loved one. I sing about the Unity that our African continent needs. In song, I ask young people in our society to seek proper direction from the elders. I sing to encourage my society to find
the strength to embrace freedom through action”.
“I call my sound BERITA Afrosoul, because I believe that my music is distinct, unique and originating
from my heart and soul. Truthful Afrosoul, with a sound of its own. Rich with soulful melodies,
mostly penned in my home languages and driven by guitar rhythms with groove”.
“On “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT” I worked on guitar rhythms with modern contemporary grooves, inspired by traditional Xhosa, Ndebele and Shona Music, as well as 50’s Marabi music, as my aim is to unite and empower people by mixing the new with the old. The album is inspired by contemporary music and the soulful world music of Nina Simone, Miriam Makeba, Oliver Mtukudzi, Dorothy Masuka and Hugh Masekela”.
“I’ve been fortunate to spend quality time in and out of studio with Oliver Mtukudzi and Hugh Masekela. We sang, we ate, we laughed together and I fully embraced being a child seated with elders. In the process, I learned to be free as a musician and that inspired me to write “SONGS OF EMPOWERMENT”.
