EXCLUSIVE Interview with the singer of the world hit “Jerusalem”: “I cried when I realized the impact it has”

“Jerusalem” was recorded on August 11, 2019 by Master KG (real name Khaogelo Moagi) and Nomcebo Zikode, uploaded to YouTube in October 2019, and officially released on November 29 last year.

The song has become a worldwide phenomenon, reaching more than 100 million views of the official video this summer, plus hundreds of millions more in remixes, dance lessons on “Jerusalem” and the well-known “Jerusalem Dance Challenge,” with videos. from all over the world with people dancing to the rhythm of the two South African artists.

Nomcebo Zikode is only 26 years old and thanks to his success with “Jerusalem” he has reached almost 200,000 fans and almost 850,000 followers on his Facebook page in just a few months. Additionally, Nomcebo released her first album in August, titled Xola Moya Wam ‘.

A well-known artist in South Africa, Nomcebo Zikode started her career when she was 9 years old, after winning a talent show on Ukhozi FM radio in 2003, which helped her sing in various gospel groups.

I contacted Nomcebo Zikode through her husband. She accepted with great frankness and enthusiasm the proposal to conduct an interview, especially since I was the first journalist in Romania to seek it out. And in the almost 30 minutes that I spoke on the phone, I discovered an artist full of emotion and passion. A true star, without anything false, and with a lot of openness and energy.

Master KG and Nomcebo Zikode PHOTO: Nomcebo Zikode’s personal Facebook page

How did you get in touch with Master KG and how long did it take to create and record the Jerusalem hit?

I got in touch with Master KG after having success in South Africa with the song Emazulwini, performed together with DJ Ganyani. Master KG called me and said, “I really like your voice. I was impressed with how you interpreted that song. “Then he told me a little about the song Jerusalem. I went to his studio, it was after 10 o’clock at night, at first I didn’t want to go, but Master KG insisted. I came to his studio, I put some of the chords of the song, I had a special feeling and started to sing some lyrics. Master KG was next to the room where he was singing. He was very impressed, I continued singing (Nomcebo stops the interview to play my first chords in Jerusalem) .

The next morning, I went to the gym and started singing Jerusalem. It was an extraordinary feeling, I had a good feeling, the song produced special emotions in me. The way the song touched my soul made me say, “God, this song is a little bit bigger than me.” It was a song with a special message. After three days, Master KG called me and told me to go to the studio to finish recording the song. I recorded the song on August 11, then posted it on Facebook and the reactions were impressive, with lots of positive comments. Everyone loved the song. Thus began the story of “Jerusalem”. Master KG is a very open and friendly person and it is a pleasure to collaborate.

What were your expectations when you finished searching Jerusalem?

To be honest, I thought “Jerusalem” will only succeed here in South Africa. But the reactions I received from all over the world, from the United States to Nigeria, Australia to Romania, were incredible and made me cry repeatedly. I received thousands and thousands of messages and phone calls from all over the world. The fact that you are calling me from Romania is an example of how far this song has come. And in your case, it’s okay to speak English very well. Because I received, for example, calls from people in France or Italy who loved Jerusalem, did not know English and communication was very difficult. I never would have thought that this song would be loved by everyone, as it is now.

Nomcebo Zikode, an artist with a special vocal timbre PHOTO: personal Facebook page

Yes, and in Romania “Jerusalem” is a very beloved song. I first heard it at a party a few weeks ago and it was kind of love to hear it for the first time. You have a wonderful voice and I listen to “Jerusalem” almost every day.

Thank you very much for the special compliments. What you say is wonderful.

What was your first reaction when you saw Jerusalem become a worldwide success?

I’ll tell you honestly: I started crying. The reaction of the people seemed amazing to me. I cried because it’s amazing for South Africa and I said to myself, “Lord, I can’t believe it, everyone is listening to my song.” And now I have moments where I cry or laugh when I think about the impact of the song.

What was the most special reaction you received from fans after Jerusalem became so popular?

Oh what question did you ask me! A few months after I officially released the song, I became isolated due to the pandemic, so I didn’t have the opportunity to meet as many people as I would have liked. But I got a lot of phone calls and messages. I also received a lot of videos with people dancing in “Jerusalem”. And that gives me a special inner joy.

Why did you choose to perform the song in Zulu and not in English? How do you explain the fact that Jerusalem is a worldwide success this year, even though it is not sung in English? Is it because of the sound and the feelings of the soul that awakens?

I sing it in Zulu because I am a native Zulu speaker. And at home we all speak Zulu. I didn’t think there could be English speaking people to come up with the song. But now, when I see the success of “Jerusalem”, although it is sung in Zulu, I also think about composing songs in English. I received thousands of messages from many English speakers. And the fact that a song performed in Zulu is so successful is proof of the universal language of music and the emotions that are conveyed regardless of the language in which the song is performed. Music is felt, it is lived.

“Jerusalem is a spiritual song”

Nomcebo Zikode wants to perform in Romania PHOTO: personal Facebook page

There are experts who say that although it has religious lyrics, Jerusalem is a disco-house song that contains deep and spiritual gospel lyrics. How would you describe Jerusalem in one sentence?

I think “Jerusalem” is a spiritual song. The song says, among other things, “Jerusalem is my home / Get me out of here / My home is in Jerusalem / Come with me to a place where there is happiness.” When I recorded the song, I was not very happy, so I thought the lyrics would refer to asking God to take me to a place where there is happiness and joy.

When did you discover your passion and voice for music?

I have loved singing since I was little. I remember shouting in front of my mother’s house and the neighbors said they were making noise. I loved and I love music, it is part of me. And in school, when teachers asked us what we wanted to do when we grew up, we always said that I wanted to make music. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to study music in a specialized school, also because I came from a rural area. I learned to sing on my own. It is like a gift from God.

“I want to learn as many Romanian words as possible”

Jerusalem is a beloved success in Romania. Did you get reactions from Romanian fans?

Yes, I received messages from Romanian fans on my Facebook and Instagram accounts. There are Romanian fans who ask me when I will come to sing in Romania. Who knows? I want to sing in Romania one day and sing for you. Even if I sing in Zulu, I will communicate with fans through the special and universal language of music. I would love to be able to sing to the Romanian fans. Until then, fans can download and listen to my first album, Xola Moya Wam ‘, released this summer. I hope that the Romanian authorities will listen to “Jerusalem” and consider inviting me to sing in their country one day.

And I would like to be taught as many expressions and words in Romanian as possible before performing in Romania, so that I can communicate directly with the fans. How do you say “welcome” in Romanian?

“Welcome”. And “Thank you” is “Thank you.”

Thank you very much. And I would ask you when you have time to send me more sentences translated from English to Romanian.

Surely. It was a pleasure to talk.

And it was a pleasure for me.

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