It was 2003, she and her group Jamali had just come second in the singing competition Coca-Cola Popstars and life was good.
Fast forward almost a couple of decades later and while Jamali has long split, she's still going strong in the industry.
Singer and leading lady of former all-girl group Jamali Mariechan Luiters continues reinventing herself. She was recently part of the project When House was House with Mobi Dixon. She is also one of the eight vocal coaches on Idols SA.
She recently bagged a gig as the face of Sofnfree at the Clicks Beauty Playground in Cape Town.
“The year has started great with big projects,” she tells Drum.
“In the creative world, DJs, artists, and producers kind of just hit each other up for collaborations, it’s usually very informal, it’s all about the vibe you want and the artist you envision for that song. Mobi did just that, he dropped me a text with the beat and asked if I’d be keen to put my Mariechan magic on it and I agreed. I was busy with my project, so it took me time to deliver,” she adds.
At first, she had no idea what the title of Mobi’s project was until he sent her the artwork for the release of “When the house was House”.
“Ironically, I had already titled the song Home - the beat evoked a longing in me, longing for home or someone that feels like home and that’s what I wrote about. Covid-19 kept me from traveling to see my family in Cape Town and I had never been away for that long. I lost loved ones and couldn’t attend the funerals. I had forgotten what home feels like and through love and friendships whose “homes” were close by, I wanted to feel it from their point of view, so I don’t forget,” she says.
She's also happy to also be a natural air ambassador and says her hair struggles have always been real.
“I am happy to associate myself with big brand names that bring positive change. It is a dream come true,” she says.
As a natural hair ambassador, Mariechan says she’s had her own hair struggles. “African women diaries,” she laughs.
“I have very curly hair and I recently reduced the amount of heat I use to avoid losing my curls. I use a sulfate-free shampoo followed by a moisturizing conditioner to give my hair the moisture it needs from all the chemicals I’ve exposed it to.”
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Like many artists, Mariechan was badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but it gave her time to reflect on her career and what changes she needed to make in her life.
“Many artists like myself had to improvise and innovate by tapping into other skills or talents. I was given a second chance and time away has been a blessing for me. It has helped me to focus on the brand, Mariechan, and my next music installment. I managed to set up a home studio and used YouTube tutorials to try and engineer so I can record myself,” she says.
“I am resourceful woman, multitalented and use my other skills like writing, coaching, communications and incorporate that into my business. I’m independent which means I receive 100% of the revenue for my services.
"We also have music institutions like Samro, Sampra, and Capasso that ensure artists' music rights and music funds are protected and distributed according to our works submitted. It pays to be creative, so keep writing and publishing and you’ll be fine,” she says.
“I’ve since had some great collaborations with the likes of Mobi Dixon, Sphumante, Tyler ICU that was released during the pandemic and climbing radio charts, but I'm excited about my next single coming soon.”
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Ever since her career began when she joined the girl group Jamali, which included Penniken and Jacqui Carpede, she has won the hearts of many.
“I am still in touch with the girls, but we don’t speak often. Most time, we get a glimpse of what the other is doing on social media and that’s kind of reassurance that everyone’s doing well, is glowing and doing what they do best, shine.”
She went solo after the group broke up and she is making a success of her career. She has been featured in songs by top South African artists such as Shekinah, Uhuru, and K.O to name a few.
“I am still not where I want to be,” she says.
“I enjoyed and vibe with every artist I have worked with. I’m all about spreading love and positivity. I choose to focus on the lives I get to impact through my music. I spend more time creating and being the woman I’m proud of, than I do on price tags because I’m priceless boo.”
She says in future, there might be a Jamali reunion. “We sometimes speak about it but we need to sit down when everyone has time away from their personal projects.”
Being an independent musician has not been easy for Mariechan but she loves being her own boss.
“The music industry is tough and highly competitive. But I’m on my own lane and getting back to a place where business booms, getting what we deserve is a challenge. I have achieved quite a lot of what I set out to do but expanding my brand into the rest of Africa and international platforms is still on my bucket list,” she says.
“It hasn’t been ticked off due to Covid-19 that paused and altered some of those plans. But we keep pushing through.”
She is also open about her three-year relationship with producer and artist Manu Worldstar.
“He is my bestie and music advisor,” she says.
“I find things work well when it’s less in the limelight and the focus is our craft. Music connects us, that’s how we found each other, and we share similar goals in music which is a bonus because we push and keep one another in check.”
This year she still plans to release a full project, which will have a touch of Amapiano and her traditional R&B sound.
“It’s long overdue. I have fans that are very annoyed with me already,” she laughs.
“I’m a firm believer in working in silence and then making noise when plans and goals come to fruition, so until then just know my future is still bright. At the moment I’m from a Cape Town trip with Sofnfree and getting back into work more and I will announce my next release date soon.”
