Writer, musician and actor are words commonly used to describe South African artist Nakhane, a resume that many would envy.
However they fall far short of adequately defining this enigma. The more you read their story, the less you realise you know, as it twists tumultuously and vigorously toward the present day where it continues unabated and forceful as ever.Nakhane was raised by their grandparents until they were adopted by their aunt at age seven. At 17, they came out as gay to a close circle, and later studied film music composition, literature and acting, albeit for one year each.
At 19, Nakhane was outed to their aunt, and thus began a 5-year journey through attending a conservative Baptist church, gay conversion therapy, and preaching against homosexuality.
"I've always felt a sense of alienation." - Nakhane
During that time, a double life reigned – secret visits to gay clubs added to the guilt, fear and self-hatred Nakhane endured, as they began to doubt the existence of God, and ultimately, broke down. They severed ties with the church, and that era ended.
Thus began the creative exploits of Nakhane, as they released first album 'Brave Confusion' – an acoustic guitar led, indie record – in 2013, and their first novel 'Piggy Boy's Blues' in 2015, which was nominated for the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize and the Etisalat Prize for Fiction.
In 2017, they starred in the highly controversial 'The Wound', which led to death threats over its homosexual content. Then 2018's album 'You Will Not Die' marked another change of era, as Nakhane moved into the electronic arena. The album was well received, with many such as Elton John and Madonna praising the record.
Ahead of their tour of Australia that includes appearances at WOMADelaide and the inaugural OHM Festival in Brisbane, and speaking from an on-set location in France, Nakhane muses over the creative process, and its toll.
"My friend and I always joked we would make a film together, but I thought it was never going to happen.
"Then he suddenly said, 'I've got the funding, we're going to shoot in France'. So we were the three English speakers, and most people spoke French, and it was freezing.
"I've been cold on-set before, but it was particularly bad. It seems that every time I shoot a film or shoot a video, I always seem to be in the most difficult circumstances, I always seem to suffer.
"It's a double-edged sword. It's a great experience, but you look at it afterwards, when you have suffered sufficiently, and say, 'why did I do that? That was not a nice experience.' But it was also an incredible experience at the same time."
A lifelong obsession with reading and words has culminated in the art with which Nakhane converses and composes his literature.
One word they have linked with strongly is the term interloper; the feeling of being unwanted or unwelcome in a particular place, which they utilised as a song title on their second album.
"I've always felt a sense of alienation. Growing up, I became aware of it, and then becoming aware of my queerness added a layer of alienation.
"I've always felt that way, I've always felt strange in my family. I've used it to my benefit over time, but it still hurts.
"I remember in drama class, we started studying French philosophy and words like 'alienation' would come up, and it made sense to me. And then I gravitated toward that word, 'interloper'.
"The first time I felt it in a romantic setting, I was being the interloper, but rejecting it at the same time. You realise that you are and you're not, depending on how you handle the situation that day."
They still feel they haven't found their people yet. "I always wanted to belong to a scene, but I'm quite wary of them.
"Because there always seems to be someone in charge of them saying you can't do this and this, and this. I jerk away from that, because I'm greedy. I listen to the poppiest of pop music and Miles Davis and Shostakovich, and no one should tell me what I can't listen to or use as an influence."
However, there were those who influenced Nakhane's path quite significantly. Their grandmother advised: "If you're going to drink alcohol, don't do it under the bed."
This quote inspired Nakhane to embrace their uniqueness, which led to the understanding that their uniqueness meant everything they created was just that, wholly unique and a copycat of none. "Her quote made me realise I was on the right path.
"This sounds pretentious, but as Buddha said, the art is already within you. Life is the teacher. No one's going to make you realise something about yourself, unless you are listening to yourself.
"Society has taught us to not trust our intuition, and we spend most of our life trying to get back to those unique ways of looking at things.
"That's what inspirational people do, they don't teach you anything particularly new. They bring you back to yourself. I'm interested in that, in art making you realise something that was lying dormant."
Nakhane recently recorded a gospel song for a film, which required introspection and a return to some of those dormant feelings, although spirituality has always been pivotal for them.
"I'm a failed atheist. I've wanted to be an atheist ever since I left the church. But spirituality is in every corner of the world. The problem is when it's used to oppress people.
"My family are sangomas, which for simplicity sake, is like shamans. We were going to a consultation and my aunt said, 'if you want to pray to Jesus, pray to Jesus, or whatever.
"The most important thing is that you're in touch with something higher.' That's the difference. Organised religion says if you don't do it this way, you will go to hell. That's about power, controlling people.
"I'm interested in modes of spirituality that are open and understand human beings are vast. But in that, an understanding that we are all the same."
Turning to the music, Nakhane's stunning falsetto is the result of aunts who were classically trained singers. "That is what I understood of beauty – ornate voices, with heavy vibrato and control.
"All I wanted was to sing like them. I can still hear my mum when I'm singing saying 'your phrasing is a little bit shoddy here'. That's because she was a beacon for me with singing and music in general."
Nakhane's third album, 'Bastard Jargon' (that's slated for release in late March), features multiple collaborations including Nile Rodgers, a process initially unnatural but ultimately thrilling.
"It's like you say 'this is a white cup'. Then someone says, 'it is, but it could be a little eggshell,' and you say, 'I never thought of that. Oh my God, it's better now that it's an eggshell!' I really enjoyed that about collaborating."
The power of words was obvious to Nakhane from a very young age. "You know that saying about sticks and stones? At least the physical wounds will heal, but there's something about the psychological hurt that words can do to someone that stays there when they're trying to sleep at night.
"I never thought I would be a writer until later on. I was 17 when my teacher asked if I wanted to be a writer, and I said yes.
"Suddenly someone just ripped the curtains apart and all this light flooded in. It was so clear to me, all these actions I was obsessively doing, writing all the time. She gave it a name, she gave it meaning.
"Sometimes the heavy blow of the negative words can overshadow the beautiful moments we have in life with people saying the most wonderful things.
"I would like to backtrack on what I said earlier about not having a community. I have friends, maybe three or four of them, that I would die for, and I know they would die for me."
The 'Bastard Jargon' album is released 31 March.
Nakhane 2023 Tour Dates
Fri 3 Mar - Sydney Worldpride @ City Recital HallSat 4 Mar - OHM Festival @ Brisbane Powerhouse
Sun 5 Mar - Perth Festival @ The Rechabite Hall
Sat 11 Mar - WOMADelaide
Mon 13 Mar - WOMADelaide
Wed 15 Mar - Melbourne Recital Centre
