Vivian: For the last time, I have no ‘sponsor’

Who is Vivian? 

I am a singer and a performing artiste.

How old are you?

Am I expected to answer that? I’m almost out of my 20s but not yet 30. My birthday was actually a few weeks ago, so anyone who really wants to know my age will need to stick around till this time next year. 

Your first song ‘My Dream’ was a collabo with Jaguar. Do things come that easy for you?

Actually I did my first song immediately after high school. It was produced by my former schoolmate at Marion School. The song with Jaguar came after college. It just happened that Phil, the producer I was working with at Mainswitch, was the same one that works on Jaguar’s music. At the time, I was still very new to the music business and all the dynamics that involve being a successful musician, so I was just excited to hear my song playing on radio.

Were you anxious about your next career move after starting off on such a high note?

Oh, yes! Jaguar is a big artiste so the buzz and hype around the song was quite high. After the release I decided to take a step back and come up with a clear strategy of what I wanted to do next. Fortunately my second single, Woman In Love, was also well received. After that I just kept releasing songs to keep the momentum going.

What else have you done since?

I did a song with Bobby Mapesa called Over and Over. Then I followed that up with Same Girl. My most recent release, Teren Teren, came out about a month ago.

What have your experiences so far taught you about being a musician?

I’ve learnt the importance of mentorship and having a good team. People out there have very little compassion for artistes and most artistes lack proper information that is crucial when starting out, so it’s easy to get discouraged. But if you are surrounded by the right people you learn not to take things too personally, especially in this day and age where social media is everything. It’s important to be able to separate between who you are as a person and what you become when you decide to get into music, but believe me it’s not that easy.

Does this come from any particular incident you would like to address?

When you are in positions such as I am in, you meet people and see things that can sometimes make you question the way the world works. The thing that gets to me the most is the culture we have created where girls nowadays don’t want to put their energy or time into anything meaningful in the name of sponsors and such. I think that’s a problem because these are going to be mothers and you wonder where that leaves us as a society.

Have you ever received offers for such ‘sponsorship’?

I’m looking for one actually. But be advised, the responsibilities are hefty. Haha! Kidding. Personally, I just don’t engage such. I’ve had bloggers and bigwigs spin stories about me which leave me surprised but the truth is, when you’re in my line of work you are public property. People will want to talk about your body, where you go, who you are seen with and even though I don’t want to be seen as a sex object, I have had to accept that it just comes with the territory.

Sounds like you’re referring to that time they said Jaguar was your ‘sponsor’

It’s actually about the time they called me a socialite. It’s a very bad mentality we’ve created that every girl that does anything nowadays is lusty in some way, which is especially bad for us female popstars.

I wish we would at least make an effort to move away from the labels and look at people for what they have to offer. Even the so-called socialites can be good wife material for some guys out there. But from where I sit, if you know who you are and what matters, you won’t need to keep going back and forth on such baseless talk.

So, you and Jaguar?

Are close friends. If I have to go on a talk show to put that matter to rest, I will happily do so.

Then who is ‘Teren Teren’ about?

It’s a love song like all my other songs. I generally sing about love and inspiration so this particular song is about that fire you get when you’re in love. Any woman who has ever been in love knows what I’m talking about.

What’s next?

I am looking to get involved in projects and initiatives that address the challenges women and young people face as they try to become who they want to be. From loss of direction, drugs and alcohol and all those things that happen when we get our priorities wrong.

I look up to the likes of Miriam Makeba and Yvonne Chaka Chaka who have influenced many people like me and I hope my contribution in that sector will create a lasting impact.