After a five year hiatus, Brenda Mtambo is back on the scene with an incredible album SANE which is brave and courageous, a bare, truthful offering. SANE, her third studio album exemplifies finding her own power in expression, her truth, dealing with anxiety, independence and creative freedom. Inviting us into her inner world, Brenda Mtambo shares how she found silver linings in her new album and everything in between.

Finding Power In Vulnerability 

When Brenda Mtambo discusses concepts like healing, grief, loss, love, authenticity and human connection, these are genuine pillars by which she is living her life and pushing forward a flourishing career. The Empangeni-born singer-songwriter began making music at a very young age but didn’t pursue it until the age of 19 when she joined Joyous Celebration. Speaking on how the album came about, Brenda says, “SANE came at a time when I was on the lookout for the peace of my mind, my sanity to be exact. The album stitches together lots of different characters and themes but ultimately it’s about my healing process and everything it took for me to get here.” As one can imagine, creating such a beautiful body of work took passion, time, sweat and tears to make it come to life. 

In a nutshell, Brenda understands very well how much pressure it is to reach people’s expectations as a musician. The singer says she is not in the business of creating hits after hits as one would expect but rather she wants to create timeless music that will live on. Furthermore, Brenda Mtambo adds, “I use music as a tool to say whatever I want to say. Therefore, I don’t release music until I feel the urge to be vocal about something. I was very intentional about everything I wanted to say in this album. My healing journey ended up not being my journey alone, more people gravitated towards the project to heal themselves too.”

On Mental Health Struggles 

Citing inspirations from her own life experiences and her surroundings, Brenda Mtambo describes her style as heavily afro-pop music with a contemporary conscious undertone and soothing vocals. Moreover, the artist has been very vocal about her battles with anxiety. Words such as ‘healing album’ are frequently used to describe every artists’ album, however Mtambo takes us on a deep dive about what healing means to her. The 12- track album takes listeners on her vulnerable journey and self discovery. “In the making of my latest body of work, I had anxiety which triggered my creative process more often than not. Losing my mother is one of the things that triggered my chronic anxiety. It took a long time for me to get to the point I got to understand what I was/am dealing with and how to seek help. I got to understand that healing is a process that is constant and there’s no full stop to it,” the singer says. 

A Powerhouse Against All Odds

Insistent on personal generosity and growth, Brenda’s live performances are an extension of this attitude which is by all means a healing experience. Her presence on stage is heartfelt and invariably inspires a sense of calm. “I feel so alive when I’m on stage. It’s like a different world altogether. Music is the only thing that drives me and I make it a point to deliver my music to the audience with so much transparency and honesty.” It isn’t hard to see why Brenda’s music has gained the attention it has received, cutting through the social noise with a unique sound that brings you down to earth and lifts you up.

Brenda says that consistency, discipline and respect for her craft are the qualities that have helped her in her journey as a musician. Intoxicating listeners with her serene productions, the multi talented artist adds that she was very involved in the project unlike her other previous projects. “I have elevated on so many levels compared to my last album and I can confidently say I have found my voice.”

Ultimately, Brenda wants people to open up more about their mental health issues and know that it’s okay to pause and seek help. 

SANE is now available in all streaming platforms: