Untitled Basement has announced that the exceptionally skilled Nanette Mbili, known simply as Nanette, is scheduled to perform live at the Untitled Basement on Thursday, September 26th.
She will showcase some of her most popular songs as well as selections from her latest album, ‘The Waiting Room,’ accompanied by her live band.
Around the age of 16, following her participation in a school drama production, she felt motivated to embark on a professional singing career. In that same year, she resolved that her future was in music and aimed to relocate to Johannesburg after completing her matriculation. While preparing for her final school examinations, Nanette engaged actively in theater and started to share her demos on the Internet.
After completing her high school education in 2020, Nanette initiated her music career as a Bachelor of Arts student. She reached a significant achievement with the launch of her debut album, “Bad Weather,” which debuted at number 10 on the Apple charts throughout the continent. Under the executive production of Lindelani Lee, known as Lee Global, and with creative assistance from SeezyRay, Nanette crafted a project that has made a substantial impact on the South African R&B scene.
In a 2022 interview with IOL News, Nanette discussed the motivation for her album, “Bad Weather,” stating that…“The album was inspired by the feeling of being in a thunderstorm alone, a fear that I had when I was a child.
“I wanted to take that fear and attach it to everything else that I was scared of at that time, and that I have gone through. And sort of write an album about that thunderstorm in my life,” she told IOL News.
Nanette discovered her passion for music at the age of eight, and participating in choirs significantly contributed to the development of her abilities. Mbili expressed that she was particularly drawn to R&B, as it provided her with a platform to express her emotions openly.
When she was asked by IOL News Journalist, Anita Nkonki about what inspired her music, she said experiences “inspires my art”.
“Things I have seen… It is my deepest thoughts and it is also about the society we live in now. It is all of that put together. I think that is why I love R&B so much.
“It is one of the few genres that allow you to be open and candid about your content. It is not just about love, but a genre that is vulnerable… Where you can talk about anything.”
Since then, Nanette has explored a range of musical genres, particularly AmaPiano, and has worked alongside prominent figures in the industry, such as Kelvin Momo. She played a role in two important tracks, “Fool Me” and “Imfula,” featured on Momo’s latest album, AMUKELANI, which has garnered praise from Drake.
NOTE: It’s an evening that should not be missed, as exceptionally talented Nanette will be taking the stage at Untitled Basement in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Tickets are currently available for purchase on Quicket.