Judith Sephuma
With the release of her 2011 album, I AM LIVING TESTIMONY, Judith Sephuma has confirmed, yet again, her standing as South Africa’s pre-eminent female artist.
The record, her fourth studio effort, has been described as the multi award-winner, multi-platinum seller’s most “inspirational” record to date – and it’s no wonder that the live shows accompanying the album’s release in the second half of 2011 have drawn substantial audiences.
What’s more, Sephuma has ensured that her new material yet again delivers a subtle twist on her signature sound – this time around, on I AM LIVING TESTIMONY there are plenty of Gospel and funk elements that mix comfortably with the Afro-Soul and Jazz music that has earned Sephuma such a loyal fanbase.
It’s been a decade since Sephuma burst, like a gorgeous flower opening for spring, onto the South African music scene. That was with Sephuma’s debut record, 2001’s ‘A Cry, A Smile, A Dance’ that instantly captured the attention of music fans with its incredible moving title track and brightly-hued, still memorable video.
Over the past 10 years, this most multi-faceted of artists has been crafting a sound that makes it easy to spot a Sephuma tune when it’s played on radio. From the very first record, what has been driving this remarkable artist is a desire to uplifit and inspire.
“I love being inspired, and there are a lot of people out there that I want to inspire,” Sephuma says simply. “Children, older people, teenagers. I want every one to gain something from the music that I create – something positive and uplifting.”
As Sephuma puts it, “God has blessed me with the ability to reach people so I must take the challenge head-on and be an inspiration to people.”
Taking a look back at Sephuma’s incredible career, it’s easy to see that creating positive songs, built around quality playing, is the route that the University of Cape Town graduate (an Honours Degree in Jazz Performance in 2000) has been following all along.
Starting with ‘A Smile, A Cry, A Dance’ and moving onto ‘New Beginnings’ (2005),‘Change Is Here’ (2008) and now 2011’s I AM LIVING TESTIMONY, Sephuma’s meticulously crafted songs and world class live performances have always conveyed messages of hope and love and the human condition in the most beautiful way. Songs like “You Had Your Hand On Me” off her debut, or the title track of “Change Is Here” or “Mme Motswadi” that proved such a hit off “New Beginnings” – these all showcase Sephuma’s effortless ability to pinpoint the full spectrum of emotions and spirituality that marks out humankind.
What’s also been a consistently striking feature of Sephuma’s career is her humanity. She’s faced personal challenges and so knows better than many what it takes to live life fully, with all its ups and downs. In her lyrics, Sephuma never veers away from the multi-faceted human experience that drives us all – always matching that with a commitment to the purity and power of well-played music, whether it’s straight Afro-Jazz, Gospel, funk or soul.
With her trio of solo albums all earning platinum sales and significant radio play, it’s no wonder Sephuma is also a multi-award winner.
‘A Cry, A Smile, A Dance’ earned her two 2002 South African Music Awards for Best Female Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album, two Metro FM Music Awards (Best Female Vocalist; Best Jazz Artist) and two Kora All Africa Awards (including Best Artist from Southern Africa). It was a formidable start for her career – and one that she’s lived up to since: Sephuma also enjoyed a clean sweep at the South African Music Awards for “New Beginnings” including taking home the highly coveted Best Female Artist as well as.
Sephuma’s live shows are also the stuff of legend – whether it’s playing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown or The Lyric in Joburg, her current shows in support of ‘I Am Living Testimony’ or performances in places like Nigeria, Sephuma continues to enchant.
With current radio hits ‘Write Me A Letter’ and ‘Wena Wedwa’ and a slate of live performances coming up in the tail end of 2011, there’s no doubting Sephuma’s position in the firmament of great South African artists.
*****Judith Sephuma - Additional Biography Info ******
Awards:
Best Female Artist (New Beginnings)
Best Engineer – Jasper Williams (New Beginnings)
Best Producer – Laurence Matshiza (New Beginnings)
SAMA – Best Female Artist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
SAMA – Best Jazz Vocal (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
KORA All Africa Music Awards - Best Artist from Southern Africa
KORA All Africa Music Awards - Best African Female Artist (Africa/Diaspora)
Metro Fm Music Award - Best Female Vocalist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
Metro Fm Music Award - Best Jazz Artist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
Nominations:
SAMA 15 - Female Artist of the Year (Change Is Here)
SAMA 15 - Best Contemporary Jazz Album (Change Is Here)
The record, her fourth studio effort, has been described as the multi award-winner, multi-platinum seller’s most “inspirational” record to date – and it’s no wonder that the live shows accompanying the album’s release in the second half of 2011 have drawn substantial audiences.
What’s more, Sephuma has ensured that her new material yet again delivers a subtle twist on her signature sound – this time around, on I AM LIVING TESTIMONY there are plenty of Gospel and funk elements that mix comfortably with the Afro-Soul and Jazz music that has earned Sephuma such a loyal fanbase.
It’s been a decade since Sephuma burst, like a gorgeous flower opening for spring, onto the South African music scene. That was with Sephuma’s debut record, 2001’s ‘A Cry, A Smile, A Dance’ that instantly captured the attention of music fans with its incredible moving title track and brightly-hued, still memorable video.
Over the past 10 years, this most multi-faceted of artists has been crafting a sound that makes it easy to spot a Sephuma tune when it’s played on radio. From the very first record, what has been driving this remarkable artist is a desire to uplifit and inspire.
“I love being inspired, and there are a lot of people out there that I want to inspire,” Sephuma says simply. “Children, older people, teenagers. I want every one to gain something from the music that I create – something positive and uplifting.”
As Sephuma puts it, “God has blessed me with the ability to reach people so I must take the challenge head-on and be an inspiration to people.”
Taking a look back at Sephuma’s incredible career, it’s easy to see that creating positive songs, built around quality playing, is the route that the University of Cape Town graduate (an Honours Degree in Jazz Performance in 2000) has been following all along.
Starting with ‘A Smile, A Cry, A Dance’ and moving onto ‘New Beginnings’ (2005),‘Change Is Here’ (2008) and now 2011’s I AM LIVING TESTIMONY, Sephuma’s meticulously crafted songs and world class live performances have always conveyed messages of hope and love and the human condition in the most beautiful way. Songs like “You Had Your Hand On Me” off her debut, or the title track of “Change Is Here” or “Mme Motswadi” that proved such a hit off “New Beginnings” – these all showcase Sephuma’s effortless ability to pinpoint the full spectrum of emotions and spirituality that marks out humankind.
What’s also been a consistently striking feature of Sephuma’s career is her humanity. She’s faced personal challenges and so knows better than many what it takes to live life fully, with all its ups and downs. In her lyrics, Sephuma never veers away from the multi-faceted human experience that drives us all – always matching that with a commitment to the purity and power of well-played music, whether it’s straight Afro-Jazz, Gospel, funk or soul.
With her trio of solo albums all earning platinum sales and significant radio play, it’s no wonder Sephuma is also a multi-award winner.
‘A Cry, A Smile, A Dance’ earned her two 2002 South African Music Awards for Best Female Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album, two Metro FM Music Awards (Best Female Vocalist; Best Jazz Artist) and two Kora All Africa Awards (including Best Artist from Southern Africa). It was a formidable start for her career – and one that she’s lived up to since: Sephuma also enjoyed a clean sweep at the South African Music Awards for “New Beginnings” including taking home the highly coveted Best Female Artist as well as.
Sephuma’s live shows are also the stuff of legend – whether it’s playing at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown or The Lyric in Joburg, her current shows in support of ‘I Am Living Testimony’ or performances in places like Nigeria, Sephuma continues to enchant.
With current radio hits ‘Write Me A Letter’ and ‘Wena Wedwa’ and a slate of live performances coming up in the tail end of 2011, there’s no doubting Sephuma’s position in the firmament of great South African artists.
*****Judith Sephuma - Additional Biography Info ******
Awards:
Best Female Artist (New Beginnings)
Best Engineer – Jasper Williams (New Beginnings)
Best Producer – Laurence Matshiza (New Beginnings)
SAMA – Best Female Artist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
SAMA – Best Jazz Vocal (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
KORA All Africa Music Awards - Best Artist from Southern Africa
KORA All Africa Music Awards - Best African Female Artist (Africa/Diaspora)
Metro Fm Music Award - Best Female Vocalist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
Metro Fm Music Award - Best Jazz Artist (A Cry, A Smile, A Dance)
Nominations:
SAMA 15 - Female Artist of the Year (Change Is Here)
SAMA 15 - Best Contemporary Jazz Album (Change Is Here)