The last project she released was a gospel album 2019.
Then she took a bit of a breather and backed a few artists on their projects, worked on building her brand on social media.
She needed to work on herself and the maturity of her music. Singer and songwriter Putuma Tiso returns with a new project on the pipelines and it's taken a few lessons and disappointments to be certain of who she is.
“It has been an eye-opening journey since I started my professional music career in 2010,” she says.
“I have lost friends, changed from being an afro-pop singer to being in gospel. I have been exploited and taken advantage of, but still, I rise,” Putuma says.
“All of the experiences have helped to build the solid Putuma I am today.”
Read more l How singing gave Khokho Madlala a voice, long before she could speak
She debuted into the music industry as an Afro-pop singer in 2010 and released her self-titled album under Native Rhythms.
“I have always known that I was supposed to sing gospel music, but I was in denial,” Putuma says.
“I still wanted to be young, be a party girl, and have fun. But I was never content, there was always something missing.”
It was when Putuma was booked to sing at the Cape Town International Jazz festival that she explored the Gospel side of her wok.
“To close off my set, I sang a Gospel song, and immediately I realised that gospel was my calling,” she says.
Instead of attending the after-party, she went to her hotel room.
“I got there and prayed. I felt like God revealed my true calling, to sing Gospel,” she says.
In 2016 she released Jesu Dwala, in 2017, then a live album titled Back to the Journey of Grace, in 2018 Wethembekile uJesu and 2019 released Worship Encounter and then laid low, away from the spotlight.
“I went back to being a backup singer. I’ve always been a people pleaser, and I wanted to do something for myself, but was not sure how to go about it,” Putuma says.
“Going back to being a backup singer gave me time to work on my project that’s coming out and to give me time to mature and make a good decision. I wanted to make yourself happy first.”
Coming from Port Elizabeth and wet behind the ears, Putuma felt taken advantage of.
“People always used me or gave me the wrong advice and I was so naïve that I listened to everything because I didn’t know my worth,” she says.
“That messed me up in a way, I was from a poor background, and all I wanted was to sing but people took advantage of me being quiet and I had to learn to have a thick skin and stand up for myself,” Putuma says.
Read more l Lindelani Mkhize on being hospitalised, Joyous Celebration's hard year and their upcoming album
When she began her journey singing Gospel, she worked with Bishop Benjamin Dube who took her under his wing.
“He the first person to give me a platform,” Putuma says. “I joined his band, he mentored me and nurtured my potential.”
After, she met Rebecca Malope who also treated her like one of her own.
“She paid for my first album and studio time, she made sure I was taken care of, and even to this day, she is like a mother to me and I feature in her album.”
Putuma has backed the country’s top singers like Gloria Bosman, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, and Siphokazi to name a few.
“I have sung with almost every gospel and jazz artist in the country, but my calling has always been to preach, heal and sing about the word of God through my music,” Putuma says.
Read l Idols Karabo Mogane on his upcoming E.P and his engagement – 'This year is a big year for me'
In her upcoming album titled Sacred Moments, she will be recording the 14-track project at the Soweto Theatre in front of a live audience.
“This project is to show my level of gratitude. In my time as a musician, I learned my lessons the hard way, but I have always been okay. There is not a single day where I have gone without food on the table,” Putuma says.
“Music has been my saving grace. Even during the lockdown, I was able to do what I love and survive off it.”
After her album release, Putuma will be travelling to other African countries. Putuma's live recording will be on 2 May 2021.
