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IN CONVERSATION WITH NANETTE

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“Abazali is centred around celebrating the parents who raised me. I wanted to make a song my mom and dad would feel was made for their generation. The Soweto funk and jazz sounds of the 1980s are very dear to me. This is my love letter to South Africa—its elders, its children, and the culture that raised me,” says Nanette.
Born in Durban, Nanette has steadily carved out her place in global R&B. Her 2022 debut Bad Weather earned her a SAMA nomination and charted in Apple Music’s Top 10 across Africa, while collaborations with amapiano heavyweight Kelvin Momo and rap star Nasty C further showcased her range. With her upcoming EP Painfully Happy, she promises a journey through nostalgia, emotional storytelling, and her signature blend of R&B and South African sounds.
Fans can now pre-add Painfully Happy ahead of its release and request Abazali from their favourite radio stations.
Connect with Nanette:
• TikTok: @officialnanette
• Instagram: @officiallynanette
X (Twitter): @officialnanette South African R&B singer-songwriter Nanette unveils her new single Abazali, the second release from her forthcoming project Painfully Happy, out worldwide on 29 August 2025. Following the fierce, cinematic energy of her Harley Quinn-inspired track I’m Not Psycho, Nanette shifts gears with Abazali, delivering a tender celebration of family, heritage, and home.
Where I’m Not Psycho leaned into defiance and emotional intensity, Abazali offers warmth and gratitude. Infused with the grooves of 1980s Soweto funk and jazz, the track pays homage to South Africa’s elders while staying rooted in contemporary Afropop and R&B textures. Sung in her home language, the song reflects Nanette’s desire to create something her parents’ generation could embrace while still speaking to today’s listeners.
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• YouTube: @nanetteofficial
22 Aug 2025 English South Africa Entertainment News · Music Interviews

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