South Africa has always been a breeding ground for extraordinary talent. From global chart-toppers to cultural innovators, creativity seems to pulse through the country’s veins.
You don’t have to look far to be inspired as talent roams free on the streets of Mzansi. One such talent is AzureDé, a rising Amapiano star hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, who is turning heads and setting the stage for what could be an iconic career.
Declaring her arrival with the debut single, “Blow My Mind”, AzureDé delivers with the finesse of a seasoned artist while carving out a sound that’s undeniably hers. Directed by the visionary Director Cube, the music video oozes sophistication, showcasing her style and magnetic presence. With over 70,000 views on YouTube in just one month, her debut is declaration of intent.
AzureDé’s artistry lies in her attention to detail. Every lyric feels deliberate, carrying emotion and meaning that resonate deeply. Her ability to marry intention with melody has quickly established her as one of Mzansi’s most thrilling new voices.
As South African sounds like Amapiano, 3 Step, and Afrohouse continue to dominate global playlists, AzureDé stands poised to be the next torch-bearer representing the nation. We caught up with the songstress to talk about music, her journey, and where she’s headed next.
Glamour: Can you share more about your upbringing in KwaZulu-Natal and how the diverse musical influences in your home shaped your unique sound today?
AzureDé: Yes sure.. It was humble beginnings, I was born and raised in beautiful Kzn - South Africa, and grew up in a home where music was literally just part of everyday life. As far back as I can remember, my earliest memories of music that filled my home is of R&B, Pop, Rock, and in later years Kwaito, Gqom, Amapiano, and more. This has influenced me greatly in my career and has moulded me into the diverse artist that I am, allowing me to appreciate and explore different genres and sounds.
Glamour: You’ve described your sound as 3-Step, a subgenre of amapiano infused with your signature thabla. What inspired you to craft this distinctive blend of styles, and how do you see it evolving in the future?
AzureDé: Hmm.. I wanted to be super intentional with my music, differentiating factor, and vision. I didn’t want to just create music and put it out there, I wanted to find “my sound,” so consulted with my producer and team, and settled on the one that excites me the most, that’s the 3-Step genre, I also wanted to add a different flavour to it, and whilst in Dubai enjoying the nightlife, there was a song playing which had the Tabla in it, and it’s flavour worked so well with 3-Step and my single - Blow My Mind, I had to add it to the song.
To answer the second part of your question, music is ever changing, evolving, and transcending, I think that the best part of it is the fact that as south africans we refuse to be boxed, aren’t afraid to explore, add, change, remove in order to create greater - from trends to culture, and that’s what always keeps us ahead of the game, evolving, creating some of the best sounds adopted by the world.
Glamour: Your debut single, Blow My Mind, has garnered impressive reception. What was the creative process behind this track, and what message or feeling do you hope listeners take from it?
AzureDé: Thank you so much! I have honestly received the type of response I had hoped for in putting out my debut single - the support and love I’m receiving is amazing and I’m incredibly thankful. For my single Blow My Mind, I put together the team I want to work with and we chilled at a studio camp listening to beats and creating new music, it was just fun on another level. For the single, I wanted to create a relatable and fun song which Blow My Mind encapsulates.
At times we find ourselves at the beginning of a relationship trying to figure out what it is or ain’t - the essence Blow My Mind captures is understanding where feelings have crossed the friendship line.
Glamour: The music industry has its share of challenges. How have your experiences in navigating timelines, deadlines, and the local scene influenced your approach to creating and releasing music?
AzureDé: Challenges are part of everyday life yea, it comes down to perception and how one chooses to tackle them. I think personally, being an independent artist is amazing, you have freedom, and can dictate a lot of your career direction, but a challenge I definitely experienced thus far is sticking to timelines, as so much can come up in between, career wise, personally, bigger opportunities, issues, incl. a fractured and now healed foot which did delay my single release, but we keep moving! I took the opportunity to be in studio a bit more. Focus, discipline and positivity are super important.
Glamour: Can you tell us more about your songwriting process and how personal experiences and environments fuel your creativity?
AzureDé: Yes sure. I love writing in tranquil settings, it helps creativity flow for me. I draw from personal experiences when I write, as well as experiences from those around me. I love writing from the heart and being as relatable as possible.
Glamour: As an emerging artist poised to make waves in 2025, what upcoming projects or collaborations are you most excited about, and what can fans expect from AzureDé this year?
AzureDé: Ooh! Yes, so much! There are a few exciting projects which are underway, some dope colabs and tours, (I can’t give too much away just yet), but do keep up with all things AzureDé via my socials, and website.
Glamour: What milestones or accomplishments in your career so far stand out to you, and how have they shaped your vision for the future?
AzureDé: You know, I think we live in a very fast paced world and tend to forget to celebrate small wins and accomplishments. On my journey thus far, a huge milestone would definitely be the fact that not only did I put an incredible team together who share my vision, I created and released a single that I worked on with one of the most respected producers, which trended over an entire weekend on X when it dropped, same with the music video, and it’s doing great things as my first single out there. It’s also shown me that anything you set your mind to is doable, as long as you believe it for yourself before you expect anyone to believe in it. I celebrate the fact that I’m gaining fans who love my music around the world- it’s a blessing.
Glamour: Looking ahead, what is your ultimate goal as an artist? How do you see your music influencing or contributing to the South African and global music landscapes?
AzureDé: Hmm.. I am extremely intentional about how I choose to direct my career, I would love to be identified by my music being known across borders, Africa to the world, with a fresh sound and flavour, but I would also love to create positive change through my music and philanthropy that will survive far beyond me. Being able to sing is a gift, creating music and performing is a passion, but my purpose is to utilise and leverage it for the greater good in Africa. I’d love to be able to influence change on policy and infrastructural levels someday. A special project which falls in line with my philanthropy side, aiding in immense growth in employment opportunities in Africa on a huge scale, is a project super close to my heart which you can find out more about on my website.
Glamour: As someone committed to authenticity and uniqueness, what advice would you give to other aspiring artists looking to carve their own paths in the industry?
AzureDé: Tough one! I think it differs due to the outcome one expects. I would say, be clear about what you want as your starting point, understand how to protect your work of art. Having a product that’s unique is key, authenticity sells. Utilise and leverage online platforms to the best of your ability, understand all of the pros and cons of being indie or a signed artist under a label, and never lose focus, faith, drive, consistence or discipline.
Story by By Takudzwa Nyambi
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