Multimedia artist Nakhane has made a stunning return to the music scene with the release of their latest dance classic, Killer.
Shedding light about the song they detail that this release marks a significant moment of transformation in their artistic journey, intertwining themes of rebirth and consequence that have resonated deeply throughout their life as a musician, film-maker, and writer.
With the interpretation of this classic hit, the celebrated musician not only continues to establish their versatility as a contemporary voice in art but also reintroduce themselves to the world of music post their acclaimed 2023 album, Bastard Jargon.
The music sensation tells Saturday Star that the genesis of the song came during a performance of their previous work, You Will Not Die.
During encores, fans expressed their eagerness for the track, prompting Nakhane to rethink its potential as a return vehicle to music after a two-year hiatus focused on different creative pursuits.
What sparked the making of 'Killer', and what is the meaning behind the song?
I had been touring for my album You Will Not Die, and we were playing the song as part of our encore. After playing it a few times, people would come to me and ask when I would release it. Initially it wasn’t part of my plans, but after spending some time thinking about it, I thought that it would actually be an interesting way to return to music after two years spent doing other things.
How has the feedback been from those who follow you, and how has it impacted your craft?
The feedback has been wonderful. As excited as I was for people to hear my version, I was also nervous because the song is so well known. And because the song is so well known, people probably have emotional connections to it. There was always going to be a chance my version wouldn’t be as like the original ghetto, and that’s a result of that emotional attachment. In terms of my craft: making this song has taught me so much about production and mixing because this time around I wanted to do that work instead of relying on somebody else.
What are some of the highlights of bringing the song to life?
It took me about a year to finish the song, as I was playing around with different versions of it, seeing how the song would sit in different scenarios. As arduous as the process was, I enjoyed working my way through the difficulties and "failures" because they taught me what worked and what didn't.
What has kept you motivated as an artist?
I have new ideas almost every day. My problem has never been a dearth of ideas but being able to manage my time to actualise them, because they haunt me daily; they want to be actualised.
What can people expect after the latest offering?
I am working on two albums at the moment, which I want to be released in the next two years. The songs have been written; I just have to finish producing them the way that I believe they should be heard. But because when I do write music, I write a lot of it; I always have songs that I love that don't fit into the theme of said album. Usually those songs are left in the archives, but this time around I thought it would be interesting to work backwards: to finish writing the songs of the albums and work on them, but while I work on them, continue working on songs that have nothing to do with the albums. I think this is because I don't want people to be waiting five years between projects anymore.
Saturday Star
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za