Simphiwe Dana on dreaming Zandisile, working with Salif Keita, surgery & almost giving up her career

Helen Herimbi presents: i(m)bali LIVE featuring Simphiwe Dana. The multi-award-winning South African musician speaks to the music journalist in front of a live audience. They discuss: Leading the church choir as a pre-teen (03:00) Taking the plunge and moving to Johannesburg (05:44) Challenging herself to write songs in isiXhosa (07:45) How having her first child was intertwined with creating Zandisile (13:05) Oskido refusing to sign her as a musician (15:00) Collaborating with Lebo Mathosa (16:27) Letting go of her music (21:20) Becoming a premiere artist signed to a major record label (22:00) The irony that led her to write Ndiredi (25:14) How seeking spiritual enlightenment inspired her debut album's artwork (30:05) Being involved in a car accident that almost took her career away (31:32) The studio as her refuge to write The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street (38:30) How Busi Mhlongo's life inspired her own Mayine (41:38) Her album, Kulture Noir, was to be followed by an eatery and performance venue of the same name (43:34) How the Bring Back Our Girls outcry inspired her to write Chibok (45:30) How friendship is a part of the Symphony Orchestra (48:10) Her self-care regimen (55:32) The bittersweet effect of being the subject of a book (01:00:50) Undergoing surgery on her vocal chords (01:03:06) The unreleased album of covers (01:05:49) The unreleased a cappella album (01:08:20) Why Bamako is the title of her upcoming album (01:09:05) How Salif Keita went from a wishlist collaborator to a reality (01:10:30) Her new single, Usikhonzile, being a call to empathetic leadership (01:14:38) How toyi-toyi meets orchestra on her Bamako cut, Zabalaza (01:16:00) Being an observer of the times through her music (01:18:33) Being labelled a diva (01:20:44) Shot and edited: Outre. Sound architect: Kitso Moremi. Thumbnail image: Dudu Dube For more information on #imbaliLIVE or to find out how to attend, visit http://www.helenherimbi.co.za Follow Helen at   / uhelenh