Women Singers

"All contestants were imitating famous singers (…) I was imitating Vanessa Williams and managed to reach the finals"

"I never refuse any invitation to perform in Tunisia, and sometimes I cancel everything to answer the call of my country."

"Inspiration moves in us when we are touched, moved. The inspiration comes from the people I encounter, and those with whom I evolve. It also comes in elements, areas and aspects of nature and the universe beyond us."

"My stage outfits are a blend of fabrics and accessories inspired by Morocco’s traditional crafts, Africa and anywhere the music takes me."

"I write and compose my songs, and then I arrange them in consultation with the musicians I work with."

"I am honored to take on this role with UNAIDS and am committed to supporting the fight against HIV in Morocco."

"I walked past my school again, it was on rue Saint Jacques, and I cried a little bit, that's where I grew up. It's very funny because it was in Paris that I learned to love my country, which is Algeria, and Egypt, and music, and the Arab world."

"As an artist, I have a platform to reach many people. It is my duty to use my voice to advocate for people living with and affected by HIV who are often unheard."

"Such a big loss to the Arab World, I'm truly so sad about the death of the great artist and the legend Warda. May her soul rest in peace!"

"You have killed thousands of Libyans and you continue to mow-down a large number of innocent people in Syria...You swear you didn't bear weapons, but I assure you that you have the most powerful weapon of mass destruction: the media. If you misuse the media, you will kill the son of Arabism.""

"A voice that inspired and joined whole generations."

"I really grew up listening to international music more than Moroccan music. When I started my career, I used to write my own songs in English and French. I would never have thought that someday I would write my own songs in Arabic, because Arabic, especially the Moroccan dialect, has a lot of harsh sounds."

"We have some female rappers here in Morocco who are very strong. But I think that the thing we need more of is just helping each other out. I think that if we had more communication and more love between female artists, we’d all express ourselves more. At the end of the day, it’s music, it’s art, and it’s sharing messages."

"When I started singing, it was mostly pop and love songs. Once I started doing rap, a lot of people were shocked. For those in Morocco, rap is for men, not women. I think all the criticism just made me be a stronger person."

"I was inspired by a lot of artists. I grew up listening to Rihanna, Beyoncé, Drake, and Lil Wayne. These artists really impacted me and impacted my way of seeing music."

"I want my kids on TV” and I said you know what, wait for them to grow up, there’s enough time for them to be on television but get them some training as well and I know that it’s not always affordable for everyone; that’s always a major hassle but there are programmes where…I know that there’s the Market Theatre lab, that I mean there is a fee involved, but I do believe that they give…and go to free courses, go and learn something. Watch Videos, watch movies, watch people perform and learn. Keep learning and don’t think you know, don’t let your ego get in the way of what this job really is. It’s also just a job, you know, a job we’re passionate about, but it’s a job, be professional and work hard"

"I had to give up the hustle and live (at) home for three years. My father would sometimes spend weeks and months in the hospital. Then he would be better and laugh‚ then the next thing he had dementia or couldn't walk. If it wasn't diabetes‚ epilepsy‚ kidney failure‚ hypertension or blood clots in the brain‚ it was something else. One day his body couldn't take it anymore and it shut down"

"A lot of people think that I am a new kid on the block because of this big role I got....it took me ten years to get that (her role on Isidingo)"

"There is nothing I regret‚ about anything that has happened in my past... I would do it all over again... That is what I needed. So‚ now when people try to mess you around‚ you are like: 'Oh‚ is that the best you can do? I have been dealing with things like this for a very long time"

"He told me that I was a legend and an idol for him, it touched me deeply."

"I have always been a big dreamer, but obviously my parents and family will tell me to be realistic. It’s very rare that we get these opportunities in SA. Growing up, I used to watch a lot of Michael Jackson and Rihanna concerts; I loved it and wanted to do that. We are very close as a family and they are so proud, they get excited and it’s a whole celebration."

"No, I didn't have time to take photos, I had young children, all that..."

"Losing someone you love is never easy‚ but I believe that when God takes‚ he also gives"

"I’m very determined. Tyla adds of her desire for further international success. If I want something, I make sure I get it. There’s a point where things become hard and you wonder if it’s going to work. But I always knew that things were going to work out eventually."

"I would tell everybody that I was going to be a pop star. My parents hoped I would grow out of it, but I never did. No matter who asked me what I wanted to be, I’d always say singer. My answer never changed."

"I always know what I want and I trust [myself]. I also love collaborating and sharing other people’s ideas because everybody has something different. You never know, because initially with ‘Been Thinking’ it was a bit further into pop than I was used to, but I warmed up to it and recorded everything and it was great. That’s happened a lot where I’ve been worried or questioning certain things, but once I’ve done it I’ve ended up liking it, so I’m open to learning."

"I love it — it’s what I wanted. I’m super-proud of myself. I know this is the time when I’m just starting, but I know that it’s also the time when I have to really work because I want to make my home proud. It’s a lot to put on your shoulders, but that’s what I want. I really want eyes on all African artists in general, because we need more attention."

"I wanna eventually buy my parents their dream home and make sure they don’t need to work another day in their life."

"They didn’t want me to be disappointed if things didn’t go my way. But I was so adamant. I was going to make it happen no matter what."

"The hardest scene to do in the movie was when I had to swim across the Orange River about 5 times, then run up a hill of beach sand at speed, get to the top, and then do a really emotional scene"

"People associate my work with their traditions and culture and maybe there isn't enough of that in the music industry. The music industry does sometimes become a little poppy and more about the accumulation of things. My work is about memories and identity"

"The processes are different for every album. Nothing is ever deliberate. Making art for me is one step in front of the next. You don’t begin with a full art work, you begin with one stroke and then you go. And you ask what else can I do until it’s a full picture."

"A love for the people, a love for country, and a love for justice. They form the basis for what the production is about using audio visual elements to stimulate imagination and explore history while moulding a new world."

"You cannot want to live in other people's expectations Your only intention should be to tell your story and tell it authentically. That is the only culture an artist should have. I don't have a desire for popularity or a desire for anything that people think identify you as a successful person. My success comes from finishing my work. So, as soon as I finish my work, I feel like I have succeeded. Anything that happens after that is out of my hands"

"I always knew that there were people who sang better than me, I never thought I would make it to this level."

"I have a sort of thought process I go through. And what I normally do with my accompanist is that we will talk through the whole show beforehand. You go through every song and we say, oe be careful of that part, and that part and remember to do that there and so on. You get all those things out of the way and it’s filed in your brain, so by the time you walk on stage you actually do it for the second time"

"And after that I always tried to do that with every show and every album, there are no throw-away songs and they must all stand strong"

"I am not thinking of a cut-off point yet"

"Study the craft of acting, at a reputable institution, first of all. This business means you need to work at your craft, long hours, preparation, professionalism, dedication is what is needed."

"All I noticed was that something would happen to people when I sang, I found that people noticed me more when I sang."

"Going through the break-up within the lockdown, I was actually seeing what had actually happened, I had time to think about it and ask myself questions. I couldn’t really run away from myself any more, there was nothing to distract me ... Even being home, it reminded me of myself"

"I remember I was not able to express to people in the house that I don’t feel like getting up from bed, and not being able to give that a name, I just went through this darkness that I couldn’t explain"

"I went through a break-up, and all my plans were in the trash. I kind of just shut down and I remember that there were so many things happening all at once ... I went through a mental block for two-to-three months, and I was at home ... it made me reconnect with myself."

"We are in the system, and it's rigged. Better we get to know it if we are to survive, break out and thrive, at this moment its near impossible to live outside it. So we need to equip ourselves with the knowledge that will allow us to have more than a fighting chance"

"You don’t talk about how you become OK and how you went through it, and this is what this album is about ... I ignored my emotional, psychological because I was in the battle ... and I neglected me."

"I feel that with this journey and just relating to the album ... I felt an awakening, I think I reminded myself of who I am ... ever since I started waking up understanding my blackness and my place in the world ... It started then opening my voice again. It shows on social media now"

"I’ve learned that although there is no separation between myself as an artist and myself as a human, I value the ability to continue living my life outside of the limelight which allows me to still be able to be authentic in my artistry"

"The music is about falling in love with self, honouring yourself by self-acceptance. The theme and message is spiritual reconnection and trusting herself with her music"

"I would camp at Big Zulu's studio, so whenever he came to his studio we would all run away because I believe we were not allowed to be there. So we would camp there and make music. It was a lot of us in studio, until this one time I decided that I'm not gonna go when others were leaving, I'm gonna stay and see how this thing works"

"I’ve realised my need to talk, I’ve realised my power to talk. I only attributed it to the music for a while and allowed people to tell me it’s only in the music. Now, as I am unfolding, I’m finding my voice to speak for people who can’t speak for themselves, to speak out about things that are affecting me. I am black and I am a citizen of South Africa, that on its own is something to speak out on ... It's because I have found me again, I found my voice again and I am here to use it"