SPHUMELELE Ntokozo Mbambo says the reality show I want to Sing Gospel gave her a platform to launch her career.

The gospel singer from Kwangcolosi outside Durban is among the young musicians whose singing talent was unearthed during the SABC2 show in 2008.

Mbambo managed to reach the top five of the competition and since then she appears to be slowly making her name in showbiz .

Her incredibly powerful voice made it easy for her to launch her solo career with an album called Amandla Amasha two years ago.

Mbambo defines her style as African traditional gospel because of the strong influence of the maskandi sound in her music.

"I have decided to go for a different sound that will define me. However, this does not mean that I cannot sing other styles. It is another way of showcasing versatility as a musician," she says.

Mbambo says the songs in her album were influenced by her life experiences.

"Sometimes as singers, we tend to look at what is happening to other people and forget about ourselves. In this album, I included songs that also focus on me. In some songs, I am trying to tell people that life is full of challenges.

"I usually use my songs to talk to people. I have also brought back some old traditional songs such as Bemdudula because of the strong messages they have."

Though the album is wonderful, it did not receive a great response from music fans. "You know when you release an album for the first time, people tend to be sceptical. I strongly feel that my next offering will perform better. Production wise, I am happy that it came out the way I had conceptualised it."

Mbambo started in music at a very young age at Sunday school. She later sang in community choirs.

"I always knew that I am talented, but I never thought that I could make it professionally. It was only later that I realised that music is my life and that singing is the only way I want to make a living."