Mila Smith, the SAMA-nominated artist, kicks off 2025 with her new single 'Stranger'
Image: Supplied
SAMA-nominated singer-songwriter and actor Mila Smith has released her new alt-pop single, "Stranger".
The Cape Town-born artist describes the song as a “palate cleanser”, setting the tone for what could be a dynamic year ahead.
“'Stranger' is about a long-distance friendship or relationship. It’s about longing for someone just out of reach,” Mila told IOL.
“The release came at the right time because I describe 'Stranger' as a palate cleanser. It’s the type of song that you can listen to over and over again — despite who you’re around — and never get bored. And because it’s a very dreamy, chilled song, it felt like the perfect debut for 2025 because I can pivot in any direction."
Mila first made waves as the lead singer of the indie-pop band Skyscrapers before launching her solo career.
Her debut EP, "You Need Therapy", earned her a South African Music Award (SAMA) nomination for Best Pop Album, cementing her status as one of South Africa’s most exciting young talents.
“The SAMA nomination felt amazing to receive! It motivated me to experiment even more with my music and share even more of it with the world,” she shared.
“To release my debut EP into the world and then for it to get nominated alongside such incredible South African artists was incredibly validating.”
Alongside her music, Mila has stepped into the acting world and has signed with MLA, a talent agency, to further pursue acting opportunities.
“I’ve always seen music and acting as closely linked. Drama classes and music video shoots allowed me to flex the acting muscles, and I realised that (alongside music) I want to pursue it as a career,” she explained.
With streaming platforms dominating the music industry, Mila remains focused on making music that is true to her artistry.
“I don’t think of making music for streaming or ‘what’s trending right now’ — I make music that is authentic to me. Music that reflects my emotions and experiences. Music I love! And I trust that it will find the right audience. Its authenticity makes it stand out.”
Cape Town's SAMA-nominated artist Mila Smith transitions from indie-pop success to a promising dual career in music and acting.
Image: Supplied
When asked what fans can expect next, Mila teased a year full of surprises.
“ALL OF THE ABOVE! New music, more acting and something unexpected,” she said. “It’s my dream to write music for a film or TV series score — that hasn’t happened just yet — but I’ve got the rest of the year, so let’s see what happens! I’d love to act in a project too. And, of course, do as many live performances as possible!”
With "Stranger" setting the stage for an exciting 2025, Mila continues to prove that she’s an artist to watch in both the music and film industries.
Mila’s journey began at just 12-years-old when she starred in the Disney Channel Africa game show "Disney Cookabout", where she emerged as the season’s winner.
That same year, she starred in the Artscape production of "Annie", playing Orphan Kate.
Though Skyscrapers disbanded in 2018, Mila quickly found her solo footing, becoming the youngest-ever signee with Apple’s creative artist services company, Platoon.
She also lent her vocals to Boomerang Africa’s Heritage Day campaign and appeared in a commercial for the kids' channel.
In April 2021, she made a strong solo debut with "Liars and Fakes", a disco-pop anthem that topped the 5FM South Africa Top 10 charts for three consecutive weeks.
Since then, she’s released more hits like "Nice Guy" and "Hide in Hell", with music videos showcasing her on-screen artistry.
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