1.Welcome and please tell stateofartistry101 who Sphum is Hey, thanks for having me :) Sphum is a young, child-like, girly, tomboyish dreamer originally from Pietermaritzburg. I’ve lived in Johannesburg for 12 years but lived in cape town for 3 years getting my advertising degree! I’m free spirited but still blossoming. I’m not as free as I will be! I’m a musician of many genre’s and have been since I was young! I’m incredibly driven. I know what I want and make sure to make it known only when I finally get it! 2.Tell us about how you get started when you work on a song and what do you think is the most important trait a musician should have I’m quite a lover of liquid processes everything must be natural and inspired. I even get those ‘why am I nervous’ feelings just before I record, that’s my adrenaline rush I think. Like not knowing what I’m gonna walk out with but knowing it’ll be just right. Freestyling and conceptualising, using my voice as an instrument is important, alotta the gems come from there. I’m also a writer of course. But I’m quite verbose so it’s the real essence of my message that I take as concept where I then ‘go simple’ if you know what I mean. My writing is quite emotional. You can see the thread if you listen carefully. I’m also quite explorative. I want my music to take a different angle and to evoke that “what the…?” reaction, whether sensual or happy. A musician is already an individual with unique qualities. Like a painter, a musician takes a canvas and creates what once didn’t exist and so all musicians must search for their little personality trait to splash onto their canvas. Another trait; conviction. Without it. Musicians become manufactured and doctored. Then the point is lost. Do anything to keep your point visible to you. 3.What would you tell anyone who wanted to break into the music industry? Hmmmm, so many non-factor issues exist in every industry. They ONLY cloud up your determination and drive. Hard work and love for authenticity keeps your head strong and clear. There are too many things people expect an artist to be that have nothing to do with music and music making. The proof is in the pudding. So make the music then do what you can to access local support. Growth is achieved through spreading your music to as many corners as is possible, but start small. Also, never give up. every dream deserves to see the light. The irrelevant extras are only noise. 4.If you weren’t a musician, what would you have been? First of all…i think I’d cease to exist if I wasn’t an artist. A dancer and actress, oh and designer. I did ballet for 8 years and love it still. I did drama from 1st grade to matric. Clothes. The love for them is ridiculous. I plan on dabbling in that love when I have a chance, I was a mess in high school cutting and sowing up things to satisfy my addiction. 5.Your career has sky rocketed this year, how do u feel about this and how are you staying humble? Thank you :) I mean I have soooooo much more work to do so I’m extremely excited to surprise myself with more unexplored avenues, but also itching to work even harder. Music’s like that. It’s a different stroke of colour each time and all you feel the need to do is to use the next colour or even pallette. Im happy but I want more ;) The trick to this industry worldwide is that you are exposing your inner most being to be loved or hated and that makes me sit all the way down for lack of a better phrase, haha. Another one of my adrenaline rushes. Jokes aside though. Humility is achieved in everyday processes; common respect for your peers, fans, family, material things and God. That maturity should guide you. No blessing should change you for the worse. 6.Tell me about your latest projects and what we should look forward to Well at the moment my ALBUM is being recorded and im on cloud 99 doing it. The stress and work is all worth it because I was born to do this. I’ll keep everyone updated on my twitter page (@iamsphum) and facebook page www.facebook.com/mslile about all promotional goodies and performances. The release will be announced there too! 2013 is the year! For 2012 just make sure to catch me on Vuzu, MTV Base, Channel O and Trace TV, they’ve been giving me mad support and I love them for it. Exposing the different and fresh I would say. That’s what I represent! Also, Im the official Steve Madden SA ambassador!! 7.How do you feel fashion and music tie in together? Pop culture amalgamates what makes people tick! Fashion is about personality and proof of life and evolution I think. As music transforms, clothes follow and imprint many eras of clothing in history books and magazines! Music, performance and clothing are the face of inner emotions and that is why so many people relate and love fashion and music! If you see how a guy is dressed you can tell what he might be listening too and that’s not a stereotyping thing, that’s a sense of relativity we all feel. 8.List three key items every woman should have in their closet Hmmmm….hard question this. Something heavily sequined, a tight fitting pencil shirt and the illest shoe alive 9.How are you going to use your celebrity status as a vehicle for social change? The voice of a child is only heard when someone lifts them up so I want to help babies and kids in some way. Whether orphans or cancer or AIDS affected. Secondly, my brother is Autistic. An amazing soul, incredibly sharp and beyond intelligent so I need more of that in my life. I want to be involved in developing these brilliant minds hands on and also later if I am able be involved in the research of autism. So many Black families are blessed with these amazing children and fall short of developing their minds beyond normal ability. My brother Sizwe, 30 now, fascinates and comforts me more everyday. 10.Can you name one fun memory from production? Was anybody great to work with? Recording with Bongani Fassie doesn’t just give you one fun memory. Dudes a trip