WeeklySA_AdminDEBUT: The Umhlobo Wenene FM deejay muses on releasing her smash-hit single Ubizo
By Siyabonga Kamnqa
TRACKING down radio personality and businesswoman Zintle Mbusi can be quite a daunting task these days.
That’s because the Umhlobo Wenene FM deejay has added a new hat to her career – that of being a musician.
These days if the gorgeous radio jock is not busy entertaining listeners on the award-winning Afternoon Drive (Enochatha) show, which she co-hosts with Luks Gidane and Phethu Soga, but she is in the studio creating music. Her hordes of fans didn’t see it coming when Babe Zee, as she is affectionately known, released her debut single last week entitled Ubizo (A Calling in Xhosa).
The song has been on high rotation on radio stations throughout the country, earning Babe Zee some respect and recognition among her peers in the music industry.
Asked what inspired her to venture into music, Babe Zee said, as a creative, she has always known that she is multi-talented, “but unfortunately one doesn’t get the opportunity to unleash all her talents at the same time.”
“Music has always been part of my journey. I am a writer and I’ve been writing even way before I got into radio and business. For as long as I can remember I have dreamt of releasing songs. But God always has a particular moment for us to realize our dreams and everything can’t just happen at the same time,” she said.
About the title of her single Ubizo, she said is the culmination of talks about her journey and her finally heeding the call to entertain people through music.
The Eastern Cape-born deejay said she wants the song to motivate people to take their careers seriously and treat them as a calling.
“Each and every job one does is a calling that impacts other people in a positive way. Doctors are called to save lives. The work you do as a journalist, writing about people’s stories and giving people exposure, is a calling,” she said.
The soft-spoken deejay said she is elated about the positive reception that the song has been receiving ever since its release last week.
“I am taken aback by all the positive feedback. It really humbles me and I’m really hoping that people, especially youngsters out there, are gonna be inspired to follow their various callings through this song. Of course there will always be naysayers in life who will doubt your capabilities. But as people we must just push forward and ignore negativity.”
Babe Zee worked with vocalist Lady Meel and producer De Mos on the song and said she can’t wait to release a follow-up single next month.
If there is one artist that inspired Babe Zee to become a deejay, she said, it is the legendary Black Coffee who has put Mzansi’s name on the world map.
“He has been inspiring me from a very young age. I’ve been following his journey and loving his music. I know that one day I’m definitely gonna work with him and I can’t wait,” she said.
