Kelly Khumalo returns with new music with ‘From God To A King’ album
After a record breaking offering in Voice of Africa in 2020, songstress Kelly Khumalo returns with her latest studio album titled ‘From God To A King’.
The seven track album, released on Valentine’s day, is a combination of Afro-Soul and gospel in one – genres that Kelly Khumalo has come to be known and celebrated for.
“What’s there not to love about love,” she rhetorically asked in between laughs. “My philosophy is that we were created by love, for love. I don’t see us being the best that we can possibly be if not loved right. The same love applies to how a mother would love her children or how you would love your siblings, your spouse or how you would love God and how God would love you back.
“Without love, I don’t see us human beings being the best we could possibly be. Hence love songs are my go-to,” she said.
The muso features varying singers like Mbuso and the prolific Mondli Ngcobo, who sings alongside Kelly in a beautiful duet titled Mina Nawe. A song written by Ngcobo.
The single is the second song to be released, with Kelly adding that it fits the love month narrative and although she had a different song in mind to release, Mina Nawe feeds into the Kelly Khumalo signature style perfectly.
“This song reassures my fans that we (I) have not changed but rather have grown from where we were to where we are now. I think I’ve done very well with this album and it’s taking its own time to grow, simply because the strategy behind it was quite different from Voice of Africa. We are going to release every song as singles and will release visuals for five of those songs,” adding that the album was originally supposed to be five songs.
“Mondli and I got lost in music and we ended with seven songs. We are working on audio visuals and hopefully that will also help in surpassing what we’ve done with Voice of Africa.”
Speaking about Ngcobo, who also helped produce the album, Kelly said: “I will never get used to working with him, I think he is one amazing musician. He’s a genius and I’m always in awe of him. I learnt quite a lot from him and I’ve grown so much as an artist vocally and just craft-wise, based on his teachings.”
And even with so many years and accolades under her belt, growth has taught her to always remain teachable.
“It’s also realising that it is not always about you. To create a product like the one we have come up with requires a lot of input from different people. So I cannot be pompous in thinking I can do it on my own or it’s my way or the highway. My music and brand are the way that they are because there are people whom I highly respect and I also accept being corrected,” she said.
About the title, ‘From God To A King’ , Kelly said it speaks to her accepting herself as a supernatural being that has been evident in everything that she has conquered thus far, “things that were sent to destroy me. I want to celebrate God and shine the light of God in this dark world.
“’From God To A King’ is also an album that will uplift people and give hope where hope is needed. There is a song title Isivikelo – if you listen to it, it speaks about how God will take care of us and shield us from the darkness of this world. And so does Akathintwa. So I will keep sending the same message that saved my life and continues to protect me. So it’s always about God,” she said.
Although all her songs are her favourite, one that stands out at this present moment is Uyathandwa, – a song that she wrote two years ago and was able to change her perception about her writing skills.
“I will never stop working and more work will be done. The visuals take a lot of time and energy. Some of the visuals will be shot in Botswana, there’s a live tour coming, we are launching the album this coming weekend and more interviews to come. We will be working a lot,” she said.
Listen to ‘From God To A King’ here: ‘From God To A King’
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