Pamela Nothando Bhulu, better known by her stage name Nomina, is a prominent singer-songwriter who is creating waves due to her prospective global appeal. She is a Motswana who was born in Zimbabwe at Plumtree. She was raised in Botswana with her siblings by her mother, a member of the South African Embassy and Nelson Mandelaโs election campaign, who served as a role model for her as a young lady. After losing her parents at a young age, she relocated to Germany, where she would launch her singing career. She began honing her mellifluous voice while performing in musical plays such as โWe Will Rock You,โ โThe Lion King,โ โMamma Mia,โ and โDance of the Vampires.โ Since then, her achievements have increased dramatically. Her 2019 single โAmadloziโ reached number one on the US Urban Radio Billboard and remained there for ten weeks, while also being featured on MTV Base Africa. In less than a year, the video for โFetish Daddyโ had approximately 2 million YouTube views and was featured on BBC Radio and Phoenix Radio. Her debut Ampaiano track, โLuthando Lo,โ was an instant hit in Zimbabwe, spending six weeks at the top of the Top 20 Radio charts, and her latest single, โKomm mit mich,โ which was published in September 2022, has topped the countryโs Shazam and radio charts. Her achievements extend to her live performances, sending her to festivals such as African Week Festival, Reggae in Wulf, and World Peace Day at Berlinโs Brandenburg Gate. She has shared the stage with South African superstars like as Kabza Da Small, Nokwazi, Professor, and Basta 929. Nomina also continues to represent Germany at the United Nations as the World Peace Berlin Ambassador. She also operates her own charity, the Allrights Charity Association, and has developed the #stophungerinzw food program. Nomina is a force to be reckoned with in many respects, and her music career is only gaining momentum. โRiceโ is the ideal introduction to 2023 and hints at an upcoming EP from Nomina.
The latest release from Amapiano artist Nomina is the lively, inspiring, and catchy track โRiceโ It brings South African roots music to the dance floor with mesmerizing flute parts, filter sweeps, and a catchy melody line, incorporating all of the genreโs traditional components. Alongside fun instrumentals, โRiceโ is also centered around a meaningful message, delivered in English, Ndebele, and a touch of Chinese. Nomina aims to shift perspectives with her lyrics, as she reflects on the effort required to plant and harvest the rice that has become such a staple in our modern diet. She offers a reassuring message โnow this song gives hope and courage to say even if we still struggle like that, weโre still going to put rice on the table. Itโs about turning lemons into lemonadeโ. With all the elements of a hit, โRiceโ is the ideal song to get you moving! Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
Nomina: It all started as a young girl. Whenever I had some textbook notes to read, Iโd create melodies to which Iโd sing โtil others joined. It became something we would then sing to remind ourselves of the content, this was when I was still in elementary school in Changwa, Plumtree Zimbabwe, where I was born to Batswana parents. We then moved to live with my parents and siblings in Gaborone, Botswana.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
Nomina: I have a bit of formal training, especially vocal training and also do a lot of breathing exercise but with most of the things Iโm self-taught.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โNominaโ?
Nomina: I grew up listening to a lot of Kwaito music from South African legends like Arthur Mafokate and Boom Shaka, classic legends like Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Oliver Mtukudzi, since that was the music our parents loved and cherished. On an international scale, I listened to Bryan Adams, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Christinah Guavera, Destinyโs Child, Brandy Monica, Kelly Rowland, Sean Paul, Sean Kingston and Rihanna just to mention a few. I have also taken a liking now to Sia, her music is great. These are some of my strongest influencers to date in the music scene, including Beyonce since she was part of Destinyโs Child.
The name came about through my dreams in the form of a song at a time when I was searching for a stage name that would best compliment who and what I am. The name means โthe nominated/chosenโ in Italian while in Zulu/Ndebele it actually means โI found myselfโ.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
Nomina: My sound is personal and as unique as I am, after all thereโs only one Nomina for this specific voice. I do fuse my African sounds with a western touch, basically just embracing my African roots and western culture which I have also grown to love and embrace.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?
Nomina: My music background started at home I would say, inspired by my mother, also church choirs. Growing up we used to watch a lot of church chorale on tv and radio. Also listened to a certain type of music that our parents listened to. In my time also, the trends that we sort of followed played a role in my development. I took some vocal lessons here and there to grow my range. As for writing, I just have a natural talent for it. I read a lot of books and listen to music of all genres also to improve my vocabulary. I like diversity, trying out new things since music is a learning process, you can never stop learning.
6. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
Nomina: Music plays an important role across all these aspects. I feel that music has the power to join people from all walks of life. It is always a part of any gathering, so as to bring together everyone. When an artist is big, theyโre in an influential level and therefore there is always a way they can make a change in their country.
Music is also really spiritual, especially when it is solemn and emotional. But also dance music also brings people together as they dance and that to me symbolizes a worship of some sort.
7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
Nomina: the thing that fulfills me the most is my creation. You know when I write a song from scratch until itโs a melody that people love and appreciate, I am most fulfilled. Itโs sort of like pregnancy, youโre pregnant for a while and a baby is finally born, itโs so fulfilling. Music is also a business and I treat it as such as I would like to grow in that area, I invest and put in all I have to build my legacy, so, we focus on the craft.
In the future I wish to grow musically, beyond just features and all but into an internationally recognized name.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
Nomina: I usually have a melody or dream of the whole song and pick up the refrain, record on my phone and then use that melody to create lyrics and song structure. Once Iโm done, I send it to the producer or instrumentalist to listen and create instrumentals that would best complement that particular song. At times I would also receive a beat from a producer, of which I create melodies and add lyrics, eventually go for a professional recording, and send to mixing engineers and mastering. I am always involved in my productions.
9. What has been the most difficult thing youโve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
Nomina: So far the most difficult thing I have had to endure in my life of music is rejection and loss in investment.
10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
Nomina: This should be when I got a formal collaboration with Jamaican-American legend, singer songwriter Sean Kingston. Also getting bookings to perform alongside him in June this year. The other thing that I feel would be important to note would be my music topping the charts globally especially in Southern Africa, Zimbabwe, of which I am highly grateful for.ย
11. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
Nomina: I love creative work at home, but the studio is fine depending on the mood of the day and people you are with. I definitely prefer interaction with the audience most, it is just magical, itโs really about the energy that is exchanged between the artist and audience.
12. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
Nomina: I think its impotant for fans to know and understand the message of the song and background of each of my songs. but at the same time i try to leave room for interpretation.
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