"When I first released music, my sound was still foreign to South Africa. Many thought that my music was Kelly Rowland or something. They didn't believe that it could be a South African artist. I feel like I wasn't really appreciated back then, maybe I was ahead of my time. The same with RnB, it has always been around but not really recognised. It has changed though"
She said the issue was that so often people wanted to be Beyoncé, rather than show what makes them unique.
"It is okay to be different. You don't have to be like the big stars. Not everyone has to be Beyoncé. I know that we all look in the same direction and see it the path to success but there is a freedom in doing what you want on your own terms."
Ayanda says she has tried to be true to herself in her music and show her struggles, warts and all.
"I want to show everyone that I go through challenges and that I am a human first. I come with my imperfections and have risen above them."
Ayanda Jiya on Mzansi RnB: Not everyone has to be Beyoncé
Musician Ayanda Jiya is one of the hottest stars in the RnB game and believes the genre in Mzansi could be a lot further if artists stopped trying to be the same.
Ayanda has worked with some of the biggest artists in Mzansi, including Stogie T and A-Reece. She has stepped out of the shadows of those big names and introduced herself to the world on her debut album, Ayandastand.
Ayanda came to prominence four years ago with Go Go Girl and told SowetanLIVE sister publication TshisaLIVE this week that the industry has changed a lot since then.
"When I first released music, my sound was still foreign to South Africa. Many thought that my music was Kelly Rowland or something. They didn't believe that it could be a South African artist. I feel like I wasn't really appreciated back then, maybe I was ahead of my time. The same with RnB, it has always been around but not really recognised. It has changed though"
She said the issue was that so often people wanted to be Beyoncé, rather than show what makes them unique.
"It is okay to be different. You don't have to be like the big stars. Not everyone has to be Beyoncé. I know that we all look in the same direction and see it the path to success but there is a freedom in doing what you want on your own terms."
Ayanda says she has tried to be true to herself in her music and show her struggles, warts and all.
"I want to show everyone that I go through challenges and that I am a human first. I come with my imperfections and have risen above them."