Shanna Has Arrived

Shana Zandile Matjila, going by 'Shanna' on stage, has dropped her debut single, 'It's Okay', and it's already a great sign of what's to come from the talented singer.We first saw her years ago performing at live shows like The Gathering, and the growth is undeniable.Since then she's been teasing fans with her unmatched talent and natural star power, posting bits and pieces of her creative journey, rubbing shoulders with big names in the studio, and joining and then leaving a local music label, all culminating in her first time headlining a major show.The venue was fully packed on the first Friday night of April, with eager souls anticipating the artist's debut. Her performance went off without a glitch, and the crowd loved her. That's the power of good amapiano music.With her sultry and gentle vocals caressing the beat carefully, Shanna absolutely could not go wrong. It's like she was made for this.The night of her show, opened by Kadijah Mouton, had some crazy energy in the air. The excitement was palpable.We asked the R&B singer what that was like, how this song came to be, and what it meant for herself and her career.“It was a song that came to us really quickly. That day in the studio we were going for the amapiano genre, but still with a lot of soul and me in it. We made it right on the spot,” she says, recalling working with South African songwriter Phelela 'S.O.N.' Mbatha, whom she told of an experience she was having with a former lover and who was able to help her create the tune.The song, with elements of English and Isizulu in it, represents multiple things for Shanna. It's about dancing to forget, staying up all night with a boy you like, and eventually making your mind up about life and love.She says it was a song that was fun to make.“Recording processes for me always differ. Sometimes I'm stuck not knowing what in the world to talk or write about,” she says.Shanna deduces that is why she one day wants to have “a billion dollars” and “a billion writers”, though she notes other studio sessions are easy for her and flow pretty smoothly.“This song, I'd say, had me feeling both ways,” she remembers.'It's Okay' is on the deeper end of amapiano music. It has that Sunday-afternoon feel to it, while remaining upbeat.In her feature on the track, South African vocalist Yumbz (who also features on 'Sondela', alongside Tshego, Blxckie and the late Riky Rick) also blends in quite well, bringing his immense expertise to this side of the Orange River.The music video for the song of five minutes and seven seconds is also something worth watching.The colour grading alone gives it a nostalgic feel, while still being fun and eclectic. Shanna's performance on camera is titillating.She notes this is just the start for her, but says she is keen to not limit herself to this genre. She says this was her opportunity to dip her toes in the water.“I'm an R&B/soul artist, so I didn't want my audience keeping me stuck at amapiano you know, because then it could be hard to get out of it. That's why the song has so many keys and so much softness to it – so that it stays like me,” she says.Shanna and her team eventually chose this track as the right one for her debut as the sound is what is currently familiar to everyone's ears. With this, she hopes to reach people, not just locally and continentally, but around the world.“I took a step to get the attention of the people around me, to send out a bigger message,” she says.“My hopes are that this song carries the message that I've decided to step into my power. It also helps me see I have so much work to do, and I want, years from now, to look back and say: 'Look at you now, all grown and better.'”Her manager, Odette Schimming, is confident the artist can do just that and so much more.It is not lost on the young artist that the world is a crazy place that needs to be navigated, and that being a creative is more than about oneself.“We all want to be seen, heard and understood. Knowing this life is about 'ubuntu', I want to be an inspiration to people, so that they know they should live their truths,” she says.For the rest of the year, the girl has big plans.“This year I'll be showing the world all of my talents. Every new thing will come with new energy, new wisdom, new knowledge and new growth. I am also going to be rebranding, with a new name and new everything, so keep watching.”For more, follow Shanna online.– Anne Hambuda is a poet, writer, social commentator and media personality. Email her at annehambuda@gmail.com for more.

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