Award-winning South African jazz artist Ernie Smith opens up about his creative journey and his latest offering, Heya, an introspective song that explores complexities of love.
Known for his heartfelt storytelling and smooth jazz sound, Smith tells the Saturday Star that this latest single comes from a deeply personal place, a moment of reflection and vulnerability captured in song.
“It was a romantic relationship that was breaking down where I questioned if I had not done enough to save. The title was honestly sparked by my song Love Don’t Hurt Me Again, which has an intro with the chant Heya, which was really popular in South Africa.”
Speaking about the process of writing the song, he says, “Yes. It is one of those songs that kind of crept up on me. I remember how the ideas were just flooding in whilst I was on the mic. I have not written a love song in a while.”
Smith says the single forms part of his forthcoming album, COLOURS, a bold and soulful exploration of love’s resilience and the many shades of human emotion.
“The full album is called COLOURS, exploring themes of the resilience of love in its different forms. The different seasons we go through in life that are represented by various colour themes and moods. African stories through our music.”
He details that the journey to the album has been long and transformative, starting just before the Covid-19 pandemic, which inspired new sounds and deeper introspection.
“I have been working on this album since just before Covid-19 began. It’s a new sound for me, but still Ernie Smith. It’s the evolution of Ernie Smith. I find myself being able to say what I also wanted to without any inhibitions.”
“Yes, I collaborate in this album with a lot of great younger musicians and singers from around the country. Artists like Donveno Prins, CNote, Sibahle Mthembu, Siyanda Zulu and many others.”
For Smith, this album represents not only artistic maturity but also personal liberation.
“I have dared to venture into some of the artistic expressions which I used to filter a lot more in the past. My sound has now seemingly come full circle and is constantly pushing boundaries.”
With a career spanning over two decades, decorated with multiple South African Music Awards (SAMAs), a Kora Award, and collaborations with international greats such as Jonathan Butler and Kirk Whalum, Smith continues to evolve while staying true to the honesty that has always defined his music.
But behind the accolades lies a humble artist devoted to telling human stories through sound.
“It’s a beautiful journey which never ends. Embrace every level and stage in it. Be yourself; everybody else is taken. My love and passion to create music and the reward from seeing people being enriched by it.”
From his breakout debut, Child of the Light, to the soulful Lovely Things, Ernie Smith’s music has consistently carried themes of love, hope, and authenticity.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za
Saturday Star