Purity a singer, song writer and creative takes us through the pan-tone book of her colorful life between Durban and Cape Town.
You studied drama and wanted to pursue acting, yet venturing into the music industry. How did this transition come to be?
I guess when I was growing up I was always under the impression that acting was the ultimate form of expression. I guess I just watched a lot of television – a media format which was easily accessible. This unknowingly influenced my earliest forms of creativity. I had a lot of energy and confidence when it came to performance. My curiosity and passion for expression were fueled by dancing, singing and television reenactments which form a rich part of my childhood. At this point, the only outlets I had to articulate these feelings was through everyday life. I would entertain my family after dinner (this was my time to shine), school concerts (there were few of these) and in front of the bedroom mirror (every single day hahaha). The major shift truly happened when I started University.
There was so much friction between my mother and me at this point. She was strongly opposed by my desire to pursuing an artistic career. We fought a lot about it. I chose to be “disobedient”‘ and follow my dreams. I honestly felt like I had no other choice, the calling was fucking strong. Studying drama and performance art with a major in music, vocal training and dance gave me significant tools as a performer that I never knew I had or needed. As much as the department was bursting with creativity and growth I felt a deep sense of alienation. I had good friends and shared sincere moments but I was still seen as the weirdo’. I dressed differently, I didn’t share the same ideals, deconstructed what I was being thought and ultimately was trying to find my unconventional voice within the theatre. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much room for this in the rigorous theatre world of Cape Town. You do as you’re taught or you get low marks. Which became super frustrating for me and I also found it a bit contradictory seeing we were studying such an open and creative direction
At this point, I had started hanging out at the local watering hole where most of Durban’s punk misfits gathered in self destruct – The Winston Pub. At first, the space was overwhelming. Energetic, loud shouting everywhere while people crawled on all fours in desperate attempts to keep some form of vitality. Broken bottles, fists in the air, all wrapped up with the sweet sounds of the Dead Kennedy’s blasting through really bad quality speakers. This would be my home for many years to come.
Coming from a very traditional and conservative family I always felt like an outsider within my community. I felt this throughout my life. The Winston was so outrageous yet so freeing. I immediately gravitated towards its warm and weird embrace. I had so much I needed to say. It was of kind of therapy I needed and punk rock offered a great platform for that. I fell in love with this collection of misfits. Dance, acting, scriptwriting and vocal training, all that drama stuff from Uni was being utilized on a different kind of stage to express the true self of me.
Image supplied by Purity.
We’ve seen you develop over the years, multidisciplinary artist. Where do you find yourself as a creator in the current creative landscape?
Lately, I find myself obsessing over my spiritual identity. The idea that everything that demands my attention in my life journey can become richer/more of an experience if I work at becoming happy with myself first. So I’ve been doing TM (transcendental meditation) which has helped me navigate through a lot of anxiety, self-doubt, fatigue, procrastinating. It’s recorrecting my being to its highest potential. Motherhood is such an integral beacon of transformation, it forces me to find ways to be more present within my existence. My art has also benefited immensely from this newfound sense of purpose. When I grow as a person I flourish as an artist. My art and my spiritual journey go hand in hand.
Usually, when I write I try not to influence my mind at all. I listen to the music enough times for it to speak to me. There is massive unwritten vocal energy waiting to be tapped into with unwritten music. like a kind of silent voice begging for an ear. I probably don’t make sense. Let me try and explain this better. When I listen to a piece of music that I’m writing to, I try to hear the lyrics that already exist in the song before I bring them to life. I sometimes write songs and realize many months later their true meaning, as if my past self didn’t quite relate to it. I always feel like I’ve got a co-writer fine-tuning my ear to tap more into that muted vocal line. Most times the music carries the underlying theme and the rest just flows out organically. So I try not to intentionally write about things (I rarely do).
Image supplied by Purity.
Image supplied by Purity.
Coming from a very traditional and conservative family I always felt like an outsider within my community. I felt this throughout my life.
Your music and lyrics have quite a wildly powerful effect on people. What is your approach/inspiration/etc when it comes to creating/birthing your projects?
Usually, when I write I try not to influence my mind at all. I listen to the music enough times for it to speak to me. There is massive unwritten vocal energy waiting to be tapped into with unwritten music. like a kind of silent voice begging for an ear. I probably don’t make sense. Let me try and explain this better. When I listen to a piece of music that I’m writing to, I try to hear the lyrics that already exist in the song before I bring them to life. I sometimes write songs and realize many months later their true meaning, as if my past self didn’t quite relate to it. I always feel like I’ve got a co-writer fine-tuning my ear to tap more into that muted vocal line. Most times the music carries the underlying theme and the rest just flows out organically. So I try not to intentionally write about things (I rarely do).
Image supplied by Purity.
Image supplied by Purity.
How would you describe your music?
Always morphing, even within one song I find myself being very inconsistent. Standard formulas don’t appeal to me (intro, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, outro etc), I’m very sporadic in the way that I present songs. I struggle to write catchy music so my songs always end up sounding inconclusive and perhaps not making a lasting impression. I guess I’m also not trying to impress anyone. I’m being honest to myself. The integrity within my music and honouring of that silent voice I spoke about earlier. So, in a nutshell, my music is unconventional with 100% integrity. It’s not radio-friendly.
You have an enchanting way of dressing and presenting yourself. Have you always enjoyed dressing up? Give us the low-down on your extravagant looks/characters/persona?
I’ve always gotten shit for dressing the way I do. From my family, my community, at school, on the bus and and and. Everywhere I went there were always negative comments that drowned out the compliments which made them non-existent to an extent. But I just can’t dress any other way. I struggled to conform. Even when my mom unleashed the beatings I still managed to be me. The way I dress is a toned-down version of how I see myself in my head. Sadly I am a product of those comments. Even though I may seem expressive and colourful all the time there’s still a loud voice in my head that tones down my outfits. I’m working on silencing this voice, it’s gotten fainter over the years I must say. I can see it in my choices when I buy clothing or cut up the stuff. A lot of people think I “dress up” in a sense that has characters or I am putting on a look for a specific reason, but honestly, I’m just trying to connect with my true self in the most organic way I know-how. The self that’s unmoved by years and years of insult and individuated from her path of self-expression.
In what ways and forms have you grown musically?
I used to be very boxed way back in my punk days. I listened to nothing but gypsy punk/punk rock/ska music. In a way, I would’ve executed swift self-mutilation if I had allowed myself to listen to any other forms of music, let alone enjoy it. This was the common attitude in my circles back then. Which boxed me up in a neat little package for a very long time. Fast forward to now where I’ve gone through a complete shift in the way that I consume music, the way I hear it, feel it and create it. I’ve pretty much locked into the limitless realms of music appreciation where the river runs wild with the sweetest honey. This has done wonders for my music, stylistically I’m able to draw from different places and feelings and moods without feeling like a traitor to some stupid principle.
Do you have any new ventures in the pipeline?
– More self-work/nurturing my higher self
– I’m gonna be playing with a full band again…doing something fucking kick-ass (that’s all I’m allowed to say). Let’s just say CT ain’t ready.
How would you describe the music industry in South Africa?
Damp.
What would be the ideal Friday evening spent by Purity?
At home with my dearest love Naledi my daughter…she isn’t allowed to watch any TV during the week so Fridays are movie night and we have a little fort building ritual in the lounge to set the mood.
Every Friday without fail.
Image supplied by Purity.
Image supplied by Purity.
Image supplied by Purity.
Purity Mkhize
Purity a singer, song writer and creative takes us through the pan-tone book of her colorful life between Durban and Cape Town.
