Sally at the Top of Her Game

BOSS Madam. She was dubbed that after her single skyrocketed to the top of each and every music countdown. Her debut solo album ‘Courage’ became an instant favourite playing in jukeboxes, nightspots and at private parties.

There was no way a day went by without a Sally song playing on one or another radio station as the album dominated airwaves.

She came, she saw and she conquered. After the release of ‘Courage’ in 2012, Sally took to the stage to become Namibia’s best female stage performer. Already mesmerised by her strong and impressive vocals, music lovers were not ready for the energy and charisma Sally oozed every time she stepped in the limelight and turned the stage into her playground.

Three years down the line, Sally is the brand ambassador for Sanlam’s WealthSmiths campaign, a multiple Namibia Annual Music Award winner and a regionally acclaimed artist.

Having well and truly made her mark on the industry, the songbird describes herself as grown, sexy and 100% a business woman.

“I own my music label, Boss Madam Records, which I still need to launch. I would say I have reached success, but there is definitely bigger success to come,” Sally said.

Settling comfortably into her sofa, she takes a trip down memory lane, describing her journey through the industry as bittersweet with proud moments, sad moments but overall moments that made her stronger. Most importantly, she learned and grew into being one of Namibia’s best artists.

“I grew up watching Michael Jackson on stage, admiring Whitney Houston’s vocal ability. The stage is the one place I can be whatever I want to be, I can be Wonderwoman or Superwoman,” Sally laughed, explaining her powerful stage presence and amazing vocals.

She added that growing up singing in a church choir, she was exposed to music at a very young age and by the time she was eight years old, she knew that she wanted to do anything to do with music.

Working very hard and giving it her all, Sally managed to rise to the top of the female artists list with a crowd who scream at the mere mention of her name.

“It still catches me off guard when people tell me I am the best performer on stage. I always try and out-do my previous performances.

I am very hard on myself, even in the studio. I learned that to be a perfectionist, you have to be very disciplined.”

It takes Sally a few seconds to respond when asked what inspires her to step into the studio and create the magic music lovers get to listen to daily.

“I never go into the studio uninspired. If I am not feeling what I sing about and what I am talking about, I cannot record.”

She explains that she does not really follow a fixed process when creating a hit. Sometimes she writes the song and adds a beat to it, other times her husband, music producer DJ Kboz, would bring her a beat and she would take it from there.

Not only does Sally write her own music, she also plays the piano, flute and a few notes on the guitar.

A full time artist, mother and wife, Sally says that with the help of her mother, who also lives in Windhoek, she manages to juggle being a family woman as well as give her all to her very demanding career.

She adds that although being in demand is great, it does come with a burden, but thanks her supportive fan-base for always wanting her to push harder and be greater.

Smiling, Sally says that she considers herself as having reached the top of the list and is definitely the best female artist in the country, something many will agree with.

Having survived a car accident which left one of her dancers seriously injured and in and out of surgery, Sally has a refreshed take on life.

“I realised that life can be taken away from you just like that and I took time to just reflect and really take time to work on and polish my album,” she said, adding that that accident is also one of the reasons why she delayed the release of her second album.

It has been almost four years since her last release and Sally is ready to give music lovers and her fans a dose of something new with her second offering, which will be released in the very near future.

When not in studio making music, Sally enjoys mountain climbing, cycling, driving around town and just being at home. Her personality makes it no surprise that her favourite genre of music is rock.

“I am very goofy,” she says with a giggle. “I love playing Playstation and helping my brother work on cars in his garage.”

As for plans for the distant future, Sally sees herself as an internationally acclaimed musician, a business woman as well as a mover and shaker in music.

She coined the term ‘Boss Madam’ and has every intention of living up to it.