As part of the CREATIVES SPOTLIGHT feature, attention is paid to Mishy Kope, a South African singer and songwriter whose music blends elements of afrofolk, soul, and cultural storytelling. Her work is rooted in growing up in East Cape and the richness of the isiXhosa language, where she uses music to explore themes of identity, relationships, daily life, and formative experiences.
From her early days in school and church choirs to the release of songs such as 'Qongqotha,' 'Mama,' 'Mntakwethu,' and 'UNGOWAM,' Mishy's work continues to evolve while maintaining authenticity and connection to heritage.
In an interview, the artist shares insights into her influences, creative journey, relationship with language, and what she aims to express through her evolving soundscape.
For Mishy, language is more than just a means of conveying an idea. Writing in isiXhosa has become a way to access parts of herself that might otherwise remain inaccessible. She notes: 'Creating in my language has helped me express myself in a way I never could have if I were creating in any other language.'
There is a special intimacy in being able to create from a place that feels instinctive, allowing her to reach the deepest emotions without the need for prior translation. This connection is also deeply personal. Writing in isiXhosa symbolizes a sense of pride in who she is and where she comes from. She says: 'It is also my pride and joy to be able to write in isiXhosa because I love everything connected with being Xhosa.'
It is through this connection to language that Mishy began to discover the sound that ultimately felt most authentic to her.
Before music became her professional pursuit, Mishy encountered it through church and school choirs, where singing was primarily linked to collective experience. Looking back, she recalls church singing as something less about individual performance and more about connecting people to their 'God'; it was service.
Although she is no longer in that environment, that principle remains with her. Today, she approaches music with a similar sense of responsibility to something greater than herself. A song is not just an expression of the artist; it becomes a space where someone else can find themselves. She adds: 'The music is less about me. It is about the person who hears the lyrics and feels a connection with them in a healing, eye-opening, or simply resonant way.'
This idea of connection extends to memories of school choirs, where the collective energy and unity of shared singing continue to influence her creative practice. The result is music that leaves room for the listener, music that can become personal to someone other than the author.
Mishy's songwriting is based on the belief that there is something universal within our individual experiences. She describes people as 'quite complex beings with many interesting layers,' acknowledging differences in lives while recognizing a common foundation beneath those differences.
For her, writing songs has been a way to explore this space. She explains: 'Diving into my true 'self' without shame or judgment, allowing myself to be vulnerable while writing to heal myself or just have an outlet—that was such a gift for me.'
It is this balance between introspection and connection that gives her songs emotional weight. Stories may start with Mishy, but they are ultimately open to interpretation and appropriation by those who hear them. She adds: 'When others can resonate, it feels even more worthwhile.'
Mishy's transition from the pop sound of her 2022 debut album 'I’ll Wait' to the influence of afrofolk and soul that now defines her work was not an instant decision. It was the culmination of a search for something that felt more inherent to her. She knew this shift was inevitable. She says: 'I was looking for this for quite a while.'
The turning point came when she started writing music in isiXhosa. 'When I started writing music in my native language, the music felt bigger than me. It felt like a calling I had to answer, and it had to be a certain sound.'
This difference, where the music feels bigger than herself, reflects a broader philosophy permeating Mishy's practice. From the collective experience of church and school choirs to her belief in music as a source of healing and recognition, her work has always been dedicated to connection. Following this instinct required enough trust to move away from what she had established and move toward something less defined, but more authentic.
'I am genuinely glad that I followed my heart and chose this path.'
Today, this path continues to unfold through a growing body of music centered on isiXhosa, heritage, and honest storytelling. For Mishy Kope, finding her sound also meant finding a deeper connection with herself and creating music that allows others to find a piece of themselves within it.