His 2013 remake of the Etta James classic ‘I’d rather go blind’ was a great catalyst for launching his career but the Eastern Cape born artist’s journey started way before that.

Vusi Nova, real name, Vusi Nongxo released his first album ‘Ndimfumene ‘in 2009, however it didn’t do very well, some would even go as far as calling it a ‘flop’.

Nova admits that the album was not one of his best works, something he blames on immaturity and not understanding the music industry.

“My first ‘Ndimfumene’ was under EMI records and when I look back I realise that at the time I didn’t know much about the music thing. I was not ready especially vocally and the business behind it,” he says.

“The album was afro-pop. It was at a time when that genre of music was big so I went with what was popular”, he adds.

Following the disappointment from his debut album, Nongxo then went back to the drawing board and singed up for vocal training with award-winning vocalist and songwriter RJ Benjamin.

“I went for vocal training for about 3 years with RJ Benjamin. That’s when I found myself,” he says.

It was during that period that he met Oskido and signed with Kalawa Jazzmee, a partnership that would also prove fruitless for the artist.

“I moved to Kalawa Jazzmee and they wanted me to do house music. At the time I was on the edge because I so badly wanted to be heard. That period just dragged and dragged, I was recording but nothing was going out,” he says.

“Maybe that was the universe trying to say to me “You are not meant to do this.”

His big break finally came when he met the owner of ‘Muthaland Entertainment’, Lance Stehr. It was with this record company that his most successful album to date was launched.

“I’ve learnt so much over the years and one of the lessons is that you need to work with someone who believes in you and your talent 110%,” says the singer about a recipe for success.

‘Walk into life’ was my second album but I like to see it as my first. Not that I’m ashamed of my first album but it’s the album where I felt like I knew what I was doing,” he says.

He is currently promoting his latest offering titled ‘I did it for love’, an album he released only a year after his last one.

“While I was promoting the one album, I was busy working on the next one”, he says.

“Maybe it was too early but I have so much music that I want to share.”

Nova however plans to wait a while before releasing another album. His attention right now is on getting his single ‘waterfalls’ on everyone’s playlist.

Like most musicians Nova dreams on one day winning a Grammy award and maybe even collaborating with the king of R&B, R. Kelly.

“He has always taken the old swag and fused it with the now, something I see myself doing”, he says.

“This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’ve never had a plan B or C, music has always been ‘it’ for me.”

On what legacy he would like to leave behind, the singer says: “I want to be known as one of the best vocalists who ever lived. With hard work, voice training and dedication I don’t see why that can’t happen.”