She's been passionate about telling stories since she was a teenager. Music was the only tool she could use to get her message across.
Rising star Vuyina Sijinga (23) was not interested in telling any old story, she says.
“I wanted to highlight things that teenagers are going through, and it is usually things that change you as a person. You learn so much in your teenage years,” the musician says.
“I mean you are constantly changing, so there’s a lot of insecurities from what you are constantly told about how you should look like, who you should be or do,” she says.
Those were some of the reasons why she started putting pen to paper and writing music.
The Afro pop and RnB musician broke into the industry in 2017 while she was in high school.
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After completing her matric, Vuyina decided to take a much-needed break from the music scene to focus on her qualification in public relations and events management.
“You know being the industry is demanding, and it became hard having to juggle school with music on the side and I needed the break to grow as an artist and be able to master my craft.”
Now she has made a comeback with a feature on SA rapper, K.O, real name Ntokozo Mdluli’s latest album, SR3. The rapper recently celebrated his album's success on social media.
“Thought Caracara was my biggest moment, God said hold up big dawg! #SETE #1 across all platforms and radio at the same time, crossed double plat on Saturday! Most viral on SA TikTok with no challenge? Video 5 Mil in three weeks! #SR3 sitting at #1 when the blessings rain, they pour,” the excited rapper captioned.
For Vuyina, working with K.O came with exciting lessons and she's ready for even more now.
"To know that someone who has been in the industry for so long was able to recognize me and my craft it is just so fulfilling. It is a reminder that I am really doing what I am supposed to do, and I am on the right track.”
She tells us how she got noticed by the musician.
“One day K.O was looking for a female vocalist and my producer suggested me because he has been working with K.O and then he called me into the studio. He made me listen to the song and things became very organic from there, and it became what it is.”
Vuyina’s work ethic has also caught the attention of singer and songwriter, Shekhinah as well as Pabi Cooper. She says working with them has been nothing but pure joy.
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“It is very fulfilling again to know that I am that good to meet with the level of what they do because these women are very big in the industry, and for them to recognize my craft and how passionate and good I am, it is fulfilling and a lot of fun.”
“I’ve learnt a lot from them, especially Pabi, because she is such a hard worker.”
Vuyina says she is reintroducing herself into the industry in a different way after her hiatus.
“Taking a break was very scary but my writing style has completely changed, I have also changed quite a bit. I think maybe because I already knew what I wanted to talk about and what I wanted to get across the world that made it so much easier because I am surrounded by people who are helpful and love to work.”
She says her fans and followers should be on the look out for her new single towards the end of October.
“I am also working on a new project which unfortunately doesn’t have a release date as yet, but a hot single is coming in a few week's time.”
