Is Pewa the Next Big Namibian Female Artist?

In the past few years women have managed to a get a stronghold in the Namibian music industry from Sally, Monique English, Adora to Lioness and now we have Pewa a hot prospect who is on the rise.

Pewa sat down with Wamboesbelike.com and explained that she basically started singing before talking.

I’ve been singing since I could speak basically. The first time I sang on a stage was when my band, The Hashtag NoNames, performed at Song Night at the Warehouse Theatre. I was 15 and the band members where my brothers Leo and Gabes, our friend Namupa Nghixulifwa and Fiddy the Rapper. I also feature on Fiddy’s latest mixtape, The Freshman.

Even though Pewa isn’t a 90’s baby she is still inspired by artists from the 90’s mixed with artists from the new school.

Growing up I only ever listened to Toni Braxton and Celine Dion because to me they have such amazing vocals and they inspired me to want to be an artist. More recently though I have been listening to a lot of SZA, Jorja Smith and Sabrina Claudio.

Pewa’s musical journey runs through her bloodline as her father was part of the Ndilimani band.

Absolutely. My father is a musician and I grew up in a very musical environment. We lived on a farm with a studio when I was younger so we’d wake up to live instrumentals every morning. I think this is where my siblings and I were influenced into playing instruments. I play the keyboard, Leo plays the guitar, Samwel plays the base guitar and Gabes plays the drums and he produces music as well.

Pewa appeared on LMPC’s critically acclaimed mixtape and she explained that the collabo happened when LMPC saw her perform Childish Gambino’s “Redbone”.

My brother Leo was playing for Ann Singer at the Warehouse Theatre on Valentine’s Day last year and I was his plus one I guess. We were backstage and Leo asked me to help him warm up so I sang Childish Gambino’s “Redbone”. LMPC was backstage as well, he heard me singing and he came up to us and told me he’s going to put me on his mixtape. We spoke about it for a while and a couple of weeks later we set up a mini studio in my parents’ living room and that’s how it all happened.

Despite Pewa not having dropped any songs, she has explained that she might drop some songs sometime this year.

I really hope so! I’ve recently started working on my own music and I’m learning to produce as well. I want to make my own music and I want it to be super chilled but still kinda upbeat, hard to explain but  I’m working on it and HOPEFULLY I’ll have some content in a couple of months.

The music business can be a dirty business at times, which is one of the reasons why Pewa is hesitant on joining a record label.

I feel like I still have to think about getting signed because I am scared of getting played by record labels. I have to find a label that I trust and will take me far as an artist as well, but for now my plan is to stay independent until I find a perfect record label sign to.