The lecture hall and the DJ booth are two sides of the same coin for Nelson Mandela University logistics student Nqobisa Hlana.
And this week the New Brighton resident, who goes by the name “Bisà”, will on Friday release her debut single, Umama, featuring Masi and Borah RSA.
The 20-year-old DJ, who has been commanding the decks at various gigs across the Bay, is also set to showcase her talent as an upcoming producer with her new three-step single.
Three-step is a SA dance music subgenre blending amapiano, Afro house and deep house.
It is characterised by its signature three-kick drum rhythm, deep log drums, layers of percussion, and often includes jazz horns.
Hlana said while juggling her academics and music career was demanding, she had managed to find a balance between the two.
“This is my first single, I really love it, I cannot wait for it to come out and I hope it will do well.
“It took about two months to get it ready, getting the right vocals, deciding where to put the vocals, which artists to use for the instrumentals.
“It was a long process but it was a nice experience.
“This was the first time that I was in studio recording, it was exciting to work with new people, they made the process easy and fun for me,” Hlana said.
Having shared stages with some of the industry’s most electrifying acts including Mr Thela, Yanga Chief and Russel Zuma, she is now under the management of Avee Connexion Holdings.
The second-year student started to make waves in the music scene in 2022 with her signature blend of three-step Afro house and gqom.
“While I started my musical journey in other genres, I wanted to start with three-step, that was my main focus because that was the genre I would listen to in my free time.
“I thought I would rather play something as a DJ that I loved and listened to.
“So it only made sense that my debut single would be a three-step single.
“The message behind Umama looks at if you had, hypothetically, lost your mother or a connection with your mother, now you are making it in life and you want your mother to see your success.
“I like making music that people can relate to the message behind it,” Hlana said.
After falling in love with music while at primary school, she started DJing using her laptop in high school
Hlana said she had a clear vision about what she wanted to achieve in the music industry.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic I learnt I could DJ and mix, I was in grade 10 or 11 at the time.
“In 2022/2023, I learnt to use the physical set.
“I do intend to study further after I obtain my qualification, I want to be educated, to balance my worlds out.
“If there is a test coming, I do not accept bookings because I want to graduate.
“My parents support me now, because I had to work hard to prove to them what I wanted to achieve.
“Now I aim to expand my brand beyond Gqeberha.
“In the future, I want to be respected, paid in accordance to my worth and have people singing as well as connecting with my music.”
The Herald
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