Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release

The post Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.

Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release. South African music innovator Toya Delazy has opened up about the difficult road she faced after choosing artistic independence over the traditional music industry system that first propelled her to fame.

In a deeply personal message shared with fans, the London-based singer, producer, and pianist reflected on more than a decade of relative silence in her home country. The artist, born Latoya Nontokozo Buthelezi in KwaZulu-Natal, is the creative force behind the genre AfroRave, a bold fusion that blends Zulu lyricism with rave, techno, drum and bass, and other electronic sounds.

Delazy first captured South Africa’s attention around 2011 with the breakout single “Pump It On” and her debut album Due Drop. The project quickly established her as one of the country’s most exciting new pop voices. In 2013, she earned major recognition at the South African Music Awards, winning Newcomer of the Year and Best Pop Album, while also securing a nomination for Best International Act (Africa) at the BET Awards.

Beyond music, Delazy comes from a prominent cultural lineage. She is the granddaughter of the late Zulu leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the great-granddaughter of celebrated traditional composer Princess Magogo. Yet despite early success and heritage tied deeply to South African history, she says her decision to pursue ownership and creative freedom dramatically changed her relationship with the industry.

“When I chose my independence, the industry closed its doors,” she revealed. “My new music was pushed into the shadows. My songs, my videos, the work I gave my life to were silenced and unseen by the millions of fans who wanted to follow the journey.”

Her move to the United Kingdom became more than a geographical shift. Delazy described it as a search for survival and renewal, a place where her artistry could breathe again. In Britain and across Europe, she rebuilt her career from the ground up, participating in campaigns, growing a loyal community, and continuing to craft music rooted in her Zulu heritage while embracing her identity as a queer, gender-non-conforming artist focused on empowerment and positive energy.

For Delazy, music has always been far more than entertainment.

“Music was never just a career,” she wrote. “Many people make music for fun. I make music for my life. Music was the only thing that consoled me after I lost my mum. Music changed my life. Music is my liberation.”

Now the artist is preparing for a defining new chapter. She has announced plans to independently release her next album on May 20, choosing to move forward without deals that would compromise her ownership.

“I have no choice but to face things head on,” Delazy said as she introduced the project, tagging the moment with Afrorave2 and signalling a new phase in the evolution of her sound and movement.

Her story highlights broader tensions within the music business, particularly for African artists navigating questions of control, gatekeeping, and access to platforms. For many observers, Delazy’s journey stands as a powerful example of resilience and cultural pride.

The post Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.

The post Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release appeared first on SA Hip Hop Mag.
Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release. South African music innovator Toya Delazy has opened up about the difficult road she faced after choosing artistic independence over the traditional music industry system that first propelled her to fame. Toya Delazy Reflects On 13-Year Silence Ahead Of Independent Album Release In a …
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