From Tiktok to hits: Khanyisa Jaceni walks away with her first music nod at the Basadi in Music Awards
TIKTOK sensation turned musician Khanyisa Jaceni’s win at the Basadi in Music Awards has not only convinced her of her musical talent, the win has also restored her back to herself.
The 27-year-old’s first music award was bagged under the Sofnfree Amapiano Artist of the Year, for the song Gyjima which features Sir Trill, Marcus Mc, Tycoon and Ben Da Prince
The song is taken from her six track sophomore EP Halfway, which came at a time when the artists was facing a lot of interna battles.
This first music win is a stamp of approval that she is on the right track, she said. “A win is a win man,” she said before bursting out into a boisterous laughter.
“There are a lot of battles that we fight and a lot that people don’t get to see. And there are sides and angles that people don’t actually get to experience. So this win and body of work is a testament to living, a testament to not giving up and keep going,” she said.
Khanyisa burst onto the entertainment scene on Tiktok in 2020, with her funny skit videos trending for one thing or the other. In 2021, the star released her debut EP Soft, which featured artists like Lady Du, Marcus MC and Tsiki XII.
The second EP was marred by dark days and a lot of self doubt. But her will to achieve her dream of music came true was even louder. Music became her saviour.
Her winning single, working with giant names like Sir Trill, was a collaboration of creative minds thus producing a gem that has set her up for greatness. The star is ready for more.
“I genuinely didn’t expect to win this award. More than anything, when I reflected on the people that I was nominated with – really talented individuals – whoever would have taken it would have been well deserved because these women work, you know.
“The win for me took me aback on some ‘eh, this means I’m the working’. More than anything, I am very excited and humbled. I just want to work some more.
“This is all a stamp of approval for me to keep doing it. Even if it is for two or three people. For the mere fact that there is someone out there willing to listen, the music is worth making,” she added.
About those dark days, she said: “It was just hard for me to get up. The pressure and being bullied on social media became the biggest reasons why I wanted to give up.
“Music was my first love and I always wanted to do it. But Tiktok came at just the right time. Everyone was on lockdown and I used that platform to introduce myself. But music was always the aim and in due time, I gradually introduced the music and everything else fell into place,” she said.
And she is proud of all that she has achieved in such a short space of time.
“Even though I am very hard on myself and I believe that there is more for me to do, I am proud of myself. There is so much more music already in the pipeline and I am more than amped to release new music for people to consume,” she said.
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