Award-winning Namibian musician, actress and entrepreneur Taylor Jaye recently landed an interview on the BBC where she showcased not only her talent but her mother tongue, Khoekhoegowab, too.
An ecstatic Taylor Jaye (real name Jaleesa !Gaoses) told unWrap.online this was the second time in a period of four months she was featured on the BBC.
During her first appearance she performed, while she was interviewed during the second. She says the first interview was pre-recorded while the second one was shot during her United Kingdom (UK) tour.
“This is one of many highlights of my career, I just got back from my first ever UK tour where I became one of the first southern Africans to perform at The O2 Arena in London. I also became one of the first artists from southern Africa to do a cipher on the iconic Tim Westwood TV. So, doing the filming with BBC was a build-up of them seeing my work prior to arriving in the UK, and reaching out to capture a glimpse of my work.”
The O2 is home to the world’s most popular music, sport, comedy and entertainment in the UK.
Taylor Jaye, who names her mother as her role model because she has taught her the value of hard work, is currently working on new music, which follows the release of her last EP, ‘Rise of Jaye Walker’.
She is also continuing her work on her clothing line, Jaye Walker Enterprise.
While the artist prides herself on being an Afro-fusion artist, she has tried her hand at other genres and uses Khoekhoegowab in her music to showcase her cultural heritage internationally.
She styles her alter ego for music videos and shows and describes herself as a rather shy person.
“In terms of the business side and being an artist, I have to constantly split my brain, so that is where the challenge comes in. I had to learn things along the way, I own all the rights to my music, which most artists don’t.
“I always urge young girls in everything they do to be confident and not expect everything on a silver platter. There is a lot of hard work being done behind the scenes despite how glamorous it looks.”
She also touched on her activism work in the fight against gender-based violence and says she believes it’s important for influencers to use their voice.
– unWrap.online
Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for
only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!
