After years struggling to get into the music industry, Nompumelelo Mzobe, aka Mpumi, made sure that the half a chance she was presented with counted.

Her introduction was spectacular - she worked with DJ Heavy K on the song Wena which she composed. The song was also featured in Heavy K's album Drumboss .

It was no surprise when Mpumi produced another club banger titled Ngifike Late last year.

The song, included in her debut album, made it on to the SABC Summer Song Top 10 and won her a R30000 cash prize and a trophy.

Born in 1982 in Ndwedwe, KZN, she however grew up in Ntuzuma north of Durban.

Mpumi does not possess the mellowest of voices, but her vocal ability is unique enough to make people take note and nod in approval.

She's also versatile as a singer, though she was introduced to the industry via house music.

"I can sing everything, that's why I don't want to be regarded as a house singer," she says.

She defines her sound as house music fused with Afro-soul. She regards her talent as a gift from God, which makes her take her career seriously.

More attentive listening in to her music reveals that it's more than just dance. It drips with spirituality. The word God dominates her lyrics.

"I pay tribute to God for everything he has done for me. God is love, that is why when I sing about him, people think that I am talking about love. My music is about feelings. I write what I feel."

She worked with a young producer on The Birth of Mpumi album because "there is a lot of potential out there and I like to work with people who are not famous but work hard.

The song uSomandlawas produced by young producers from Soshanguve."

She has worked with artists such as DJ Mizz, Professor, Cassper Nyovest and Kalawa Chiki tas (Busiswa and Nolwazi).

She says struggling for years to get a recording deal motivated her to establish her own recording label called Ngoma Republic.

"I know that recording companies exploit people. They will give you this ridiculous contract where they own your music," she says.

Mpumi's journey started in 2001 when she joined Mbongeni Ngema's Committed Artists on a learnership and got professional training in music, dance and acting.

In 2003, she worked with Duma kaNdlovu on the musical The Journey which toured Zurich, Switzerland. Mpumi also worked for the SABC in 2004 as a post-production sound mixer. She has a diploma in television studies) from the Durban University of Technology.

bambalelep@sowetan.co.za