Ballito musician Jemma Kate is finding her true north [Watch]

Singer-songwriter Jemma Kate has a nightingale voice that commands attention, but the quest to find her unique sound has been a tough one.

The 32-year-old Ballito musician has dabbled in numerous genres throughout her career, but said she had finally found herself in pop music.

Kate said she was originally guided into jazz, but given her vivacious personality, jazz just did not fit.

“I am a bubbly, dancer-singer, so instead I chose to pursue singing and training on my own, always gravitating towards pop,” she said.

“It’s been a journey to find my voice. I have done some releases and songs where I have probably targeted the wrong thing as a songwriter, being more concerned with what would do well as opposed to what would speak to someone.”

Now more experienced and centred in herself as an entertainer, Kate is ready to release her first pop single on all major streaming platforms on March 31.

Titled ‘Home’, Kate said she hoped the song is one people would relate to if they ever felt a bit lost, or on a journey to find themselves, but were grateful for having a safe space to return to.

“It could be their family, or partner. For me and the way I wrote this song, it’s my spiritual journey and just knowing that no matter what, we can always find our way home to our God, who loves us and never leaves us. So, from my side, definitely a spiritual side, but I am hoping everyone can relate to it no matter what their version of ‘home’ looks like,” she said.

While this is officially her second release on a technicality, the song she released about two years ago, she said, did not gel with her.

She hopes to better connect with her listeners through Home.

Born in Cape Town, raised in Durban and now based in Ballito, Kate has travelled widely, performing on stages around the country and further abroad since matriculating.

Also a talented dancer, Kate’s career has taken her from Cape Town’s Fugard Theatre and Stardust Theatrical Dining Restaurant to the MSC cruises as lead singer of a band called Jak, the Barnyard Theatre and more recently The Rockwood Theatre as a lead singer in their productions.

She later went on to choreograph a few productions.

After becoming a mom in 2021, Kate took a short break from the stage, but has since returned with a bang.

Her dream is still to break into the professional music industry with her own music, and she urged artists to never give up.

“If you feel like you have the talent and that singing is what you want to do, then go for it,” she said.

Keep an eye out for Kate, who you can catch performing locally at venues such as Eat Street and The Market, with a show planned for Saturday at The Market from 12.30-3.30pm.

You can also catch her at this year’s Splashy Fen Festival where she will perform some sneak previews of her upcoming releases.

For more, follow her on Instagram at @jemmakatemusic.

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