Lady Zamar redefines herself with bold new sound and season of growth

In the ever-evolving landscape of South African music, Lady Zamar emerges anew, with a fresh sound and a renewed sense of purpose. Her latest single, Russian Roulette, marks the beginning of what she calls her ''Summer Era''— a season of rebirth, celebration and unfiltered storytelling.

“You know how spring is the rebirth of the season? Summer is the height of that rebirth where we start to celebrate,” she explains.

“So this upcoming project is a celebration for me. A celebration of life, a celebration of artistry, a celebration of the African continent.”

This new chapter is more than a sonic shift; it's a personal evolution, she shares. After years of navigating the complexities of fame, Lady Zamar is reclaiming her narrative.

“There’s been a lot of conversation about me that has never been driven by me,” she reflects, adding that she is ready to reclaim her story. “I’ve just been an unwilling participant who has also watched from the sidelines.”

Reflecting on Russian Roulette, Lady Zamar says the song represents a turning point not just in her music but in her life.

Here, Lady Zamar takes the reins, crafting a song that serves as both a prelude to this new era and a promise. “The song is like a primer when you are wearing makeup; you first have to prime your skin and then jump into the foundation," she analogises. “Russian Roulette is the most important piece of this upcoming puzzle. It allows me to take my people with me on this journey.”

The track delves into the emotional gamble that many of us are willing to take. Even in romance.

Though emotional, the song is also upbeat and summery — deliberately so. “I wanted something that feels good, that people can dance to, but still hits emotionally. That’s what summer is to me — celebration mixed with a little chaos,” she adds with a laugh.

“I get to share my personal story with people who have never heard anything personal from me in a very long time,” she continues. “And I wanted my listeners and those people that I consider as part of my journey — I wanted them to get a glimpse of what I am going to do sonically, linguistically and also what energy I am giving out. I want them to get on this journey with me.”

This vulnerability extends beyond her lyrics. Embracing collaboration, Lady Zamar has opened her creative process to new voices.

"Usually, I’ve been the architect, the guide, the control person," she admits. "But for me to fully reach my potential in this project and the song, I had to allow other people... to be able to say ‘yes, no’.

Allowing a collaborative atmosphere has proven to be a liberating shift for the artist, who has previously shouldered much of the creative and emotional weight of her music. She’s now enjoying the thrill of trust, the spark of shared vision. "I was very lucky to work with producers and artists who really understood the vision," she says. "That helped me feel seen and heard in a way I haven’t in a long time."

Her exploration of Afrobeats and incorporation of West African pidgin in her upcoming project signify a broader embrace of the continent’s rich musical tapestry. 

“I am also very excited about the new era because it allows me to engage more as an African person as opposed to being a South African artist,” she notes. “I get to be an ambassador to the African continent by incorporating some of their languages and some of their artists.”

As Lady Zamar steps boldly into her summer era, she’s not only reinventing her sound but also reaffirming her role as a storyteller and cultural bridge. It’s a journey of reclamation — of voice, of space, of joy — and one she’s inviting her listeners to take with her.  

“I’ve become a more realistic artist - I will make what truly feels good to me,” she said proudly. “I am never going to do anything just because I am being told what I should put out. It’s very draining, and unfortunately, because we live in a very commercialised industry where we have a lot of artists who have their creative freedom signed away, that is a reality for many.

“I do believe we are all individuals and have our messages to give to the world. And I will stay true to the need to change myself as often as I want to, as often as I need to,” celebrating her evolved state.