PJ’s on the path to creating her own destiny

BEREA Mail got the scoop behind PJ Powers’ brand new album after catching up with the pop star when she was in Durban for a special concert recently. Having grown up on the Berea, PJ has fond memories of her life in Durban.

She is specially proud of her latest album, Destiny, which she is looking forward to sharing with her Durban fans. The album, says PJ, is all about creating her own destiny.

“I have been sober for four years, prior to which I was an alcoholic for four years. That is the reason why I didn’t release an album for six years. I had never drank before,” says PJ candidly. PJ explains that her alcoholism was built out of loneliness and desperation.

“It was a very dark time. But if I had to go through it all again I would because I have come out wiser,” she said.

Unlike all her other albums which were predominantly about our country, Destiny is about PJ, barring one song entitled In This Together.

“I’ve always felt a responsibility to write songs that carried social messages as well as songs about me,” she said. PJ says that her intention was never to make a political statement but to always do what is right.

Like her beloved country has changed, so too has PJ and this album is a reflection of that change.This album is about new beginnings, it is about PJ’s rediscovery of who she is and recreating herself through her destiny. PJ’s ethos is that your thoughts become your words, which become your actions, which become your habits, which become your destiny. “This is why you must guard your thoughts. This album is about the rebirth of me,” she said.

PJ describes her new album as fresh and organic. “Every instrument on this album is played by a human, not a PC.” The album is certain to surprise PJ fans because it is quite different to her other albums. “I have stretched myself vocally and while it is different to anything I’ve done before, it is still very much me,” she said.

PJ writes all her music herself. “Song writing is a craft, it comes better through practise,” she said, adding this it is for this reason that she sits down with her guitar or piano and writes at least three times a week. “You don’t write a hit every day, but you have to write every day,” she said, admitting that she writes “two to three songs a day when I’m on a roll.”

Her favourite song on her new album is One Day At A Time. “Everyone should listen to this song every day. So many people are not present in their lives, We all need to try to honour the present,” she said.

PJ at a glance

When travelling I always pack:

Jeans, facial wipes, face cream, a good book, a sh*t load of patience and my iPad so that I can watch movies if my flight has been delayed. I always pack far too many clothes and each time I vow that I will travel lighter on the next trip, but after 30 years of travelling, I still have not learnt how to travel light.

Favourite holiday destination:

Zanzibar, Franschoek, the south of Italy and the south of France.

Style and beauty secret/s:

Care. Get rid of old, scruffy clothes. If you don’t have anything old and scruffy in your wardrobe, you will never wear something old and scruffy.

Favourite food:

I love food. Durban curries are the best in the world! I enjoy good food. You cannot get bad food in Italy.

WIN

FIVE lucky Berea Mail readers can win PJ Powers’ new album, Destiny. Simply email your details to wandad@dbn.caxton.co.za or SMS BMPJPOWERS to 42910 (sms cost R1.50) by midday Tuesday 26 November.