South African singer-songwriter and storyteller Pilani Bubu has released her latest single, Caged Heart, a deeply personal song about courage, self-belief and pursuing the life you want.
Also see: Ndu Shezi on faith, culture and the inspiration behind ‘Gugu Lami’
The track encourages listeners to challenge their own limitations, stop postponing their dreams and find the courage to take the next step.
From a sleepless night to a new song
The story behind Caged Heart dates back to 2014, when Pilani found herself reflecting on the path she had chosen.
Three years after leaving the corporate world to pursue her passions, she had returned to working at an agency. One night, unable to sleep, she began writing a poem that served as an affirmation to herself and a reminder to keep believing in her journey.
“Caged Heart is a very personal reflection of who I was 12 years ago, in 2014. After quitting corporate three years earlier, I had gone back to work in an agency. One night, I couldn’t sleep, and I wrote this poem about defying my own limitations.”
At the time, Pilani was only one album into her musical journey. Today, she is preparing to release her eighth album, giving the words she wrote all those years ago a new meaning.
“At the time, it was an affirmation, an encouragement to keep going on the journey I had started. I was only one album in. Now, with my eighth album forthcoming, those bold affirmations have become a lived experience.”
Also see: Thando Zide opens up about healing, heritage and finding joy through ‘KuNgawe’
Looking back at how far she has come
When Pilani wrote the poem, she had not yet released Warrior of Light or embarked on her Folklore album series.
Twelve years later, she can look back and recognise how much of the promise she made to herself has become reality.
The new single follows July’s Doodle Do – Diminished Light, continuing Pilani’s message of encouragement and personal growth through music.
‘Get up and do it’
For Pilani, Caged Heart is not simply a reflection on her own journey. She hopes the song inspires listeners who have been putting off something important to them.
“I want people to be encouraged by this song. If there’s something they’ve been sitting on, something they’ve been deferring or postponing, I want them to get up and do it, and do it now.”
She also encourages listeners to consider what they would regret leaving undone.
“Ask yourself: if you were to die today, what would you wish you had done?”
The singer believes that choosing a path is only the beginning. According to Pilani, people must continue to be bold, challenge their self-imposed boundaries and refuse to be confined by limiting beliefs.
“Even when you’ve chosen your path, you need to continue to be bold and courageous, to break through your own ceilings, defy the boxes and challenge your self-limiting beliefs. That’s what Caged Heart is about.”
A reminder to back yourself
At the heart of the song is a question Pilani first confronted years ago: What kind of life do you want to live, and what is stopping you from taking the leap?
Through Caged Heart, she turns that personal reflection into an invitation for others to confront their fears, stop postponing their ambitions and make space for the life they want.
The single is now available to stream and download.
About Pilani Bubu
Also known as the Indelible Storyteller, Pilani is a South African singer-songwriter, poet and the founder and curator of the Folklore Festival.
With seven albums released and an eighth on the way, she works across afro-folk, soul, jazz-world and R&B, blending music with poetry and spoken word to tell stories about life, identity and culture.
Her releases include Journey of a Heart, Warrior of Light, Folklore Chapter 1, Folklore Chapter 2: Ekuseni, Lockdown Lovestory and Nay’ Indaba, her collaborative album with French jazz-rock group Marthe.
Also see: Langa Mavuso’s Therapy (The Other Side): A Collection of Letters to Himself
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!
