With BOLD ARTISTRY and UNWAVERING AUTHENTICITY, Filah Lah Lah and lordkez are shaping the future of music on their own terms. From finding their voices in unexpected places to embracing fashion as an extension of their artistry, the two stars reflect on the moments that defined them. As they step into the spotlight for H&M’s A/W campaign , they share their journeys of self-expression, RESILIENCE, and CREATIVE EVOLUTION

The sun beams over the Mother City as I make my way to the H&M showroom at the V&A Waterfront. The music sets the tone for a lively shoot. I spot Filah Lah Lah, effortlessly singing along to the lyrics and clearly at ease in front of the camera. She’s wearing a beige ensemble from H&M’s upcoming A/W Collection. I catch up with her between takes; her energy is warm and inviting, she cracks a smile. We get acquainted. But first, why Filah Lah Lah?

“My first name is Reabetswe and my second name is Fila. I was named after my late grandmother, who was my queen.” She lights up at the mention, so I ask what lessons she carries with her. “My grandmother definitely taught me kindness, warmth and being personable.” Filah shares that she was born in Pretoria and moved around a lot, which taught her to adapt to different environments, but admits she felt like as she navigated life, she’d been hiding in the shadows of uncertainty. It wasn’t until 2015 that she made a conscious decision to show up authentically. “It took me a while to figure out who I wanted to be; navigating life at the University of Limpopo allowed me to figure it out.”

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Being exposed to people from different walks of life cracked her comfort zone wide open. “As much as I moved around a lot as a child, I only realised how sheltered I’d been when I got to tertiary. Trying to find my bearings after high school, I’d hoped to take a gap year; but my parents enrolled me for law; they believed I had to stay in the education system.” As fate would have it, while she was unpacking her bags on her first day on campus a guy overheard her singing. This was the beginning of her music career. “I joined the band as a lead singer, and we called ourselves Red Wood. We would perform on and off campus; and I would describe the experience of juggling my studies and pursuing my passion as humbling! It also forced me to grow up, as it was during this time that I learnt that life is precious and difficult and that you don’t always get what you want.” This was a difficult time; Filah had to navigate a course she didn’t like alongside what she loved. “Music became my safe space as I worked towards my graduation; and when I got the degree, I walked away from law. I did it to honour my parents.” I say this speaks to her resilience and dedication, and her face lights up. “I absolutely believe in staying the course! I used to be a quitter before university; it definitely opened my eyes.”

After graduating she moved back into her mom’s house in Pretoria. Her mom was worried about her not having a plan. “We were at the precipice of COVID at the time, and Elaine dropped that year. It was so inspiring! She gave us a sneak peak into what the industry would evolve into – iconic, considering we were at the beginning of a pandemic! This bold move by Elaine made me think about my own music, and COVID made me think about my life.” This was a defining moment for Filah; she decided she didn’t want to wear a mask anymore. “I was ready to be seen. So I decided to show up.” She started sharing videos of herself singing; a producer saw her on Instagram, and offered to produce her debut EP. “He was based in Atlanta in the US, so we worked across time zones; and because I didn’t have access to a studio, I recorded Filahsofy on my phone.” Considering that this H&M A/W campaign is all about individuality and self-expression, how does this align with Filah’s personal style and artistic identity? “It reflects my artistry, because my artistry reflects who I am. I think we all express ourselves through our style, and I think that bleeds into the art that I make.”

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Zelda Venter

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