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Durban kid knocks out Nigeria with soulful chart-topper

rocking: Mamello Juqula, aka Mello Soul, is fast making her mark in West Africa photo: supplied
rocking: Mamello Juqula, aka Mello Soul, is fast making her mark in West Africa photo: supplied

MAMELLO Juqula, from Durban, is fast becoming the toast of Nigeria with her musical talents and unpredictable features.

The song South West, featuring Nigerian artist K-Switch and produced by his compatriot P-Fizzy, is currently topping the charts on Nigerian radio station The Beat FM.

The hit was recorded last year in Nigeria, along with the video. But for marketing reasons, they only released it this year as "there was no rush".

The 28-year-old knockout beauty goes by the stage name of Mello Soul. She says: "My label has links in Nigeria. The collaboration I did with K-Switch was a result of efforts by my label and his wish that we should work together.

"The love in Nigeria has been amazing even though it has not been released in South Africa yet. I believe the people of Mzansi will love both the audio and the video."

South African house scene is already familiar with her as the vocalist on Fistaz Mixwell's I'm Free. She is regarded as an urban pop artist with a touch of soul.

She is not to be confused with another Mello Soul, an American artist who released the Love Is Love single. This one is a 100% Mzansi product though she also lives in Nigeria because of work.

"I did not know there was another Mello Soul until recently. It's a name I came up with myself and I got to know about the American on Twitter not so long ago."

The songbird plays keyboards and says hers is "a God-given talent" as she was never trained to write music or sing.

Not one short of confidence and self-belief, Mello Soul warns: "The industry should look out for this girl from Umlazi because I am going to change the game.

"Firstly, I have touched the biggest African market and there are more collaborations in store."

She is currently focused on her music, but also has a passion for fashion and studied fashion merchandising and management at Linea Academy in Durban.

"My goal is to put my heart and soul into my music and establish my brand. Once that is done, I plan to venture into fashion. Not as just a creative but more on the business side as well."

She is in the production stage of her debut album and plans to release it in other African countries in summer.

The album is yet to be titled but she promised it will have powerful features from "both my homes".

"Nigeria is my second home, Ghana is next. I am an African and want to work throughout the continent."

mashotol@sowetan.co.za

 

 

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