South African singer, songwriter, actress, and storyteller Zolani Mahola has officially returned with “A Good Time”, the highly anticipated third single from her forthcoming album, People Power.
The warm, sensual, and effortlessly groovy track invites listeners to meet the celebrated artist in an entirely new space, capturing the profound feeling of arriving on the other side of massive change and realizing how much life is left to live.
A Personal and Artistic Reckoning
The song began with a chorus that had been circling in her mind before she took it into the studio with London-based, Grammy-nominated producer Hannah V, who produced the forthcoming album. At its core is the deceptively simple line: “You picked a good time to meet me.”
For Zolani Mahola, those words carry the immense weight of a significant personal reckoning following the separation from her long-time partner.
Rather than looking backwards, “A Good Time” focuses on what becomes possible when the hard work of looking inward is complete. She explains that the sexy, groovy track was born from a desire to open up to life in a new way, recognizing how much a future partner will benefit from the difficult inner work she has accomplished.
Reclaiming Her Legacy
That profound sense of freedom is inseparable from a massive transformation in her artistic life. For 17 years, she served as the unmistakable voice of Freshlyground, the pan-African band that became one of South Africa’s most celebrated musical exports.
During that time, she toured globally, collaborated with heavyweights like Stevie Wonder and Hugh Masekela, and performed alongside Shakira on the iconic FIFA World Cup anthem “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)”.
Leaving Freshlyground meant disentangling herself from an identity she had shared with a group of musicians for nearly two decades. Her transition into a new personal chapter perfectly coincided with reclaiming her legacy as a solo artist.
Where previous singles like “XhosaNostra” and “AmaXhosa” surprised listeners with Gqom-infused energy, “A Good Time” reveals an entirely different color. She is not attempting to recreate the sound that made her famous; instead, she is expanding her sonic canvas on her own terms.
You can stream “A Good Time” HERE.
More info about Zolani Mahola
Zolani Mahola is a multi-award-winning South African artist whose distinctive voice first captured the world as the lead singer of Freshlyground.
Since embarking on a solo journey, she has fearlessly expanded her work across music, theatre, film, and activism. Her debut solo album, Thetha Mama, won Best Produced Album at the South African Music Awards, while her autobiographical theatre production, The One Who Sings, earned her a Fleur du Cap Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
Her famously eclectic musical DNA has led to contemporary collaborations with a diverse array of artists, including Yo-Yo Ma, Sun-El Musician, Karen Zoid, Zakes Bantwini, Anton Goosen, Msaki, Ami Faku, and Moonchild Sanelly, as well as bands like The Soil and Super Furry Animals. Her brand-new album, People Power, is officially set for release in 2027 via Virgin Music Group.
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