Letang Tlome, former member of Afro-pop group Adilah, is back with new music. She chats to us about her 15-year hiatus and new single, Vusani. By Kwanele Mathebula
My absence from the music industry was due to working on myself and motherhood. After our group Adilah split, a lot of things fell apart and I was devastated. This was largely because the other group members and I had become family and worked well together. I tried to find my way back into the industry, but this proved to be difficult. Every deal I signed either fell through or I would be left hanging without any explanation. So, I decided to venture into the beauty industry, but that also didn’t work out.
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Struggling to make things work led me to depression. I isolated myself from people and made my circle of friends smaller. I carried a lot of shame and felt like a failure because everywhere I went people recognised me, and wanted to know when Adilah was releasing a new album. I was tired of explaining myself or my failures. I then started focusing on church and my live band, one of the things that kept me going. We performed at a lot of corporate functions, weddings, and lounges.
During this time, I also became a traditional healer. I kept falling ill and none of the doctors I consulted figured out what was wrong with me. So, church became my salvation and for a little while, I would be fine and then fall ill again. I suffered from migraines and joint numbness until one day, I lost all feeling in my legs. It was then that I knew I had to face the one thing I had been running away from since I was a teenager. I went on the spiritual journey of ukuthwasa (initiation), which I completed last year. Since then, I have found my peace.
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Being a solo artist can be challenging. When I was with Adilah, working in a group was easier because I always knew that my band members had my back. Being on stage alone is hard, but I know that it’s important for my growth. I also struggle with whether people will respond positively to my music. But, I am glad that they see me as Letang, and that I have the platform to showcase my capabilities as a solo artist.
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I wrote my new single, Vusani, while I was in initiation. The process was the hardest period for me, and I found it challenging to adjust to my new environment. During that time, a certain melody kept playing in my head, and I kept praying for things to get better. I was tired of not moving forward in my life. After my initiation, my big break finally came from Gaby Kenosi of Rocaworld Entertainment.
I am excited about my debut album. I hope that people will see that I have grown musically and as an individual. My sound is Urban Afro Soul, and the lead single Vusani explains where I have been and who I am.
