After an incredible year that saw her take home multiple Metro FM and Basadi Music Awards, achieve multi-platinum success, and cement her place among South Africa’s most soulful Amapiano voices, Bassie is stepping into a new chapter. Her latest single, “Ubuya Nini,” marks both a personal reflection and a heartfelt offering to fans as the festive season approaches. In this exclusive interview with The Yanos Mag, Bassie opens up about her journey, inspirations, and what lies ahead.
1. Congratulations on your incredible year, Bassie — from multi-platinum success to winning big at the Metro FM and Basadi Music Awards! How does it feel to see your hard work and artistry being recognised at this level?
It feels absolutely amazing to be recognised and winning all the awards; it’s always been a dream for me to win the awards. I never ever thought it would actually happen. So the fact it did, it means that, as Emtee said, “Dreams do come true; you can win if you want to.”
2. After such a successful year, what inspired your decision to release “Ubuya Nini” as your next single heading into the festive season?
“Ubuya Nini” is inspired by the distance. I live very far from my friends, family, and partner at that time, so I felt very far from everyone, and I felt like they left me, like, ‘Why would you leave me?’ but I’m the one that moved, and I wrote it like that. And like Ubuya Nini, when are you coming back? When am I going to see you again? When am I going to be with you again?”
3. The song explores the longing and emotional distance between lovers. What personal or creative experiences influenced the story behind “Ubuya Nini”?
I think people should feel like it can fill a void of them missing someone, so they can sing it for them. It’s a very easy, catchy song for the younger age, my age group and the older group
4. You’ve described “Ubuya Nini” as both personal and universal. What do you hope listeners feel or remember when they hear it?
It’s a song that everyone can relate to; I feel like it can be used to show how much you miss a person. I hope they feel like that when they listen to it.”
5. The track features Ntando Yamahlubi, Tee Jay, and T-Man SA. How did this collaboration come about, and what did each artist bring to the final sound?
Tee Jay sent me the beat, and then I recorded it where I live, and then when I came back to Johannesburg, I listened to the song, and he had added Intando Yamahlubi, and I was like, “Hey, this sounds good; this sounds great!” I didn’t have a chorus at that time, and then we recorded the chorus together at T-man Sa’s studio.”
6. Your music always blends emotion and groove so beautifully. How do you strike that balance between deep storytelling and making music people can dance to?
I don’t know; I just write what I feel and sing how I feel. I don’t know if I am keeping up. If I listen to all my songs, I can see a pattern of how I write.
7. You’re known for your warm, soulful voice. How do you keep your vocal delivery authentic and emotionally charged while experimenting with new sounds?
I don’t really say, “1, 2, start, I’m going to write, no I just write how I feel at that moment and sing how I feel at that moment.
8. “Ubuya Nini” is sung in vernacular—why was it important for you to express this story in your home language?
I’ve tried to sing in English, but most producers don’t really like me singing in English, but I feel like I can express my feelings more when I sing in the vernacular. It’s much easier to say ‘Ubuya Nini’ rather than ‘When are you coming back?’. So it’s much easier to just flow with it, I don’t have to look for words, and I don’t have to write for two hours. I just need 30 minutes, a book, and a pen or my notepad on my phone, and I just write the song.
9. Amapiano continues to evolve with new sounds and influences. How do you stay true to yourself while keeping your sound fresh and relevant?
Some sounds I cannot do; I can’t do like Piano or Bacardi, because my voice just doesn’t fit in there, so I choose to do what I know I can do best. Maybe I will try to work outside of the box in the future, but for now I just want to feel comfortable with what I do, and hopefully it succeeds over time.
10. Looking back at your musical journey, what moments or collaborations have been most defining for you as an artist?
Looking back, I would say the collaboration with MFR Souls is something I will never forget because I feel like they kick-started my career. I would not be here; I wouldn’t be known. After MFR Souls that’s when other producers would contact me. With MFR Souls I met a lot of producers like DJ Melzi and so forth. As well as Makwa, I also appreciate Makwa because he took me to the MFR Souls, and he took me to Kwesta as well. So there are a lot of other people, though, that have contributed to my career. There are not one or two; I would say about 20 or 50 people have contributed to my career to make me get to where I am right now. So the highlight for now is Makwa and MRF because they are the starting point, but there are many, many, many more people that have helped me get to where I am right now.
11. Winning multiple awards this year must have been a proud moment. Which accolade meant the most to you personally, and why?
Winning awards definitely was my proudest moment; it made me feel like, ‘Girl, you actually did it!’ Like, you can do it; you have potential. Especially because I don’t think I have been titled like the ‘Queen of Amapiano’ or the biggest artist in the country, but winning the awards made me see that my work is seen. Especially because “Kwelanga” is very personal for me; it’s a very personal story for me, and the music video is very personal as well. So especially winning the music video award and the best amapiano song award, I was like yoh all that hard work—thank you, God!” Because I’ve been working, and I’m still working!
12. How would you say your songwriting process has evolved from your earlier releases to “Ubuya Nini” and your latest body of work?
I don’t think my writing skills have changed; I’ve always been a storyteller, and I think I’ll always be a storyteller. I think what has changed now is maybe more backings or more harmonising, more everything, but other than that, I have always been a storyteller; I always tell a story in all of my music.
13. Many of your songs carry emotional and spiritual depth. What role does vulnerability play in your creative process?
I think vulnerability is very important because I’m not the only person going through something, everyone, every single person, is going through something. Every single person is going through a heartbreak, or money problems, or a struggle with the relationship with God, and you know, writing about these things, I know for a fact I’m not the only person that’s going through that. And I love when people relate, when people say, “Oh my gosh, this song healed me,” or “This song got me through this and this.” I love it so much because I understand; I’m releasing how I feel through my music, and my music is healing yoh, and that makes me so happy.
14. The festive season is here — what kind of energy or message do you hope “Ubuya Nini” adds to people’s summer playlists this year?
I just hope they dance and enjoy the beat. I hope they know the chorus at least for ‘Ubuya Nini,’ just the chorus, and I’m fine with singing the verse. Because we’re still pushing it, but I’m also still working on other music.
15. Finally, what can fans expect from Bassie in 2026? Are there new collaborations, projects, or performances we should be excited about?
I want to release another album, and that’s what I’m working on right now. Unfortunately I came back to Joburg and it’s the festive season, and I cannot expect all producers to be available, but I want to start off by working and see maybe January or February we could have a project in my hand and give it to the people so they can hear it.
As she continues to evolve, Bassie’s artistry remains rooted in authenticity, emotion, and storytelling—proving that her journey has only just begun.
Make sure to stream ‘Ubuya Nini” on all digital platforms HERE.
