The new sounds of Judith Sepuma

Think Judith Sephuma and you immediately think jazz. Her voice meets music with the same delicate tinkle as champagne in a crystal glass – smooth with just the right amount of fizz.

Now imagine that glass clinking against another glass, maybe even shattering. The sound is sharper, harsher but in some ways more alive.

That is what Judith’s new album, One Word, sounds like: a break from the soul and gospel that defined her previous five records and a move towards more of a literal pop sound. She calls it Afrofunk – a genre of music that experiments with edgier sounds.

“I’ve never wanted to be classified as a jazz or gospel singer, I just wanted to be a singer,” Judith said in an interview with the Sowetan newspaper.

“You have to love your craft enough to want to learn more about it and not be caged. Music evolves.”

It is no coincidence that Judith introduced this change to her sound after dramatic events in her personal life. In February last year she was involved in a serious car crash in which the vehicle overturned. A month later, her baby daughter died at just three months old.

Grief drove her to travel, particularly through Africa. She was part of the Do Agric campaign, an initiative that seeks to encourage African governments to invest in local agriculture. She performed in countries across the continent, including Nigeria, Senegal and Ethiopia – experiences that collectively influenced the development of her sixth album.

The title One Word refers to the song names, which are all just a single word. But that is the only simple thing about the new record.

In it, Judith sings in Lingala, Portuguese, English and her native tongue, Sepedi. Two of the songs were written by Congolese lyricists, one of which is “Belinda”, a Congolese folk song.

In an interview with BBC’s Africa Today show, Judith said she hopes to work with these Congolese artists again soon, and it may not be that long before she is able to.

One Word was released by Judith’s own, independent record label Lalomba Music, and she has plans to expand the label into Africa, with the intent to provide a platform for artists from the continent to have their voices heard.

“Africa is huge, we have a lot to offer,” she says.

Words Firdose Moonda
Images – Judith Sephuma