South African singer and songwriter Nanette has released Painfully Happy, a deeply personal and emotionally rich body of work that positions her as one of the most important new voices in contemporary music. This album marks a defining moment for an artist stepping fully into her purpose, her power, and her pain.
At the heart of Painfully Happy lies a contradiction that will feel all too familiar to many: the quiet ache that sometimes lingers beneath success, fulfilment, and applause. It is a project that captures the duality of joy and sorrow existing in the same breath. A reflection of modern life in all its complexity.
“I feel like this project is a reflection of the state I’m in right now. And maybe that’s something many people can relate to,” says Nanette. “Painfully Happy is a mix of extreme lows and really nice highs. It represents how ironic life can be. We can be going through non-stop success, achieve goals, make the dream work, but there might still be that void there. Some people might still feel incomplete even after they receive everything they have ever wanted or thought they wanted.”
Across the track list, Nanette balances light and dark with remarkable grace. I’m Not Psycho cuts through with cinematic defiance. Abazali offers a tribute to her parents and the elders who shaped her. The focus track Suddenly shines with upliftment and vocal warmth. Together, these moments guide listeners through a soundscape that is both deeply rooted in South African sonic traditions and boldly future facing. The album plays like a diary, yet unfolds like a global cinematic soundtrack, touching on themes of identity, womanhood, ambition, faith, and the delicate art of holding it all together.
Nanette’s strength lies not just in her voice but in her honesty. Her writing is bold and reflective. Her delivery is soft but firm. Her ability to shape sound without losing emotional clarity is what sets her apart. She has crafted a style that lives between genres, drawing from R&B, Amapiano and Afropop influences, while always sounding unmistakably like herself.
Since debuting with Bad Weather and solidifying her presence with The Waiting Room, Nanette has steadily built a reputation as one of the most compelling young artists in the country. Her collaborations with Kelvin Momo, Nasty C, Blxckie and Tellaman have shown her range. But Painfully Happy is the moment she brings it all home.
At every step of the journey, Nanette has walked in rhythm with her fans, affectionately known as the Nesties. Their presence has been more than just supportive. It has been essential. From intimate listening sessions to daily interactions online, she has created a world where vulnerability is safe, and connection is everything. This project is as much theirs as it is hers.
As part of the build-up to the release of Nanette’s Painfully Happy, we’ve seen her own the conversation this Women’s Month with a standout live performance at Your Weekly Touch Up, an Apple Music ALPHA cover, Spotify Fresh Finds Cover, and some prominent media takeovers and features just to highlight a few. Painfully Happy is a statement of arrival. Nanette is not asking for attention. She is earning it, track by track. With a sound that is both emotionally grounded and sonically expansive, Nanette is not next. She is now.
Tracklist
1. One Night
2. Suddenly
3. Make It Dance
4. Real
5. Silent Killer
6. Abazali
7. JJK
8. Bad
9. I’m Not Psycho
10. Money Can’t Save Me
11. How Much Can You Take
12. Letting You Go
Connect with Nanette:
TikTok: @officialnanette
Instagram: @officiallynanette
X: @officialnanette
YouTube: @nanetteofficial
