Thabsie is the kind of R&B and soul artist who shapes the room before she even hits the first note. Born in Cape Town, the South African singer-songwriter first found her voice in church choirs and was writing songs from a young age.
After moving to Gauteng, she balanced university life with performing on live stages and in choirs, laying the foundation for a career in the South African music industry that would soon demand her full focus.
Her first recorded appearance came in 2015 on the collaborative track “No More”, created in response to xenophobic violence, with her breakthrough arriving two years later with her feature on Kwesta’s Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe, a multi-platinum hit that won Song of the Year at the South African Hip Hop Awards.
That same year, she released her debut album Songs About You, including certified singles like “African Queen” featuring JR and “Ubuyanini”, which earned her SAMA nominations for Newcomer of the Year and Best R&B/Soul/Reggae Album.
Since then, she has continued releasing solo and collaborative work across R&B, soul and contemporary African pop, consistently appearing on radio, streaming platforms and national charts. Even during a pause in recording caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, she stayed active online, returning in 2024 with “Same Place” and in 2025 with “Again”.
“Every time I release a song, it’s like stepping into the unknown,” she says. “I don’t just ask, ‘Will people like it?’ I ask, ‘Does this reflect who I am right now?’ That’s the risk that makes it alive.”
Crafting creative collaborations
As her career has expanded into live performance, public-facing partnerships and cultural platforms, Thabsie has become more selective about the brands she associates with.
One of her recent collaborations places her within a global campaign founded in music, nightlife and contemporary culture. Speaking about her partnership with Courvoisier, she says it came at a perfect time when she wanted to elevate her brand.
“Courvoisier became globally recognised as a brand that celebrated culture and was popularised through the music scene, so as an artist it felt like perfect alignment. Courvoisier is equally a part of my turn-up and my wind-down moments."
"Whether it’s a chilled evening indoors, a creative studio session or a girls’ night out at the club, it’s the perfect fit for all my occasions. To me #TNIO means coming alive at a time when most people are winding down. Taking ownership of the space you’re in, being that which illuminates darkness.”
When walking into a room, she is conscious of the atmosphere she carries with her. “I want people to feel light and happiness in my presence. My name is Bathabise, which means ‘make them happy,’ and that’s what I hope people feel when they see or engage with me.”
Grace is often misunderstood, she notes, in an industry driven by volume and spectacle. “As a female in this industry, I’ve realised that softness can easily be misconstrued as weakness or a lack of hunger. However, I’ve learned that softness is one of my sharpest tools. It allows me to move in this space with discernment, empathy, purpose and a confidence that is not aggressive."
"I don’t need to be the loudest to be heard. There’s power in knowing when to speak, when to listen, and when to let the work speak for itself. That kind of grace requires more strength than people realise.”
With a voice that carries emotion that feels timeless, she says that the honesty in her music comes directly from lived experience, mainly the ups and downs of love. She explains that she doesn’t know how to create from anywhere else, and when something has touched her deeply, it naturally finds its way into her music, forming the emotional truth that people tend to connect with.
“My music is strictly personal, always has been. I feel that’s what gives it its depth and longevity because personal equals relatable. If I haven’t lived through it, sat with it, maybe even avoided it for a while, then I have nothing to say about it. The songs that matter most are the ones I had no choice but to write; they were already living inside me, demanding to be let out.”
She adds that this personal approach to music has guided how she navigates performance and creative spaces, influencing not just what she sings but how she delivers it.
This connection between lived experience and expression, she explains, naturally extends to the stages where she first learned to command an audience, including the vibrant Johannesburg nightlife that shaped her as a soulful vocalist.
“Joburg nightlife was the platform that catapulted my career. As someone who started out as a backing vocalist in the industry, I learnt to hone my craft through singing on stages with South African artists who toured the country and set the nightlife on fire," she says.
"Those stages taught me more than technique; they taught me how to listen, how to support another artist’s vision, and how to find my place within a collective sound. That’s where I fell in love with the give-and-take of making music with others.”
“Collaboration is the foundation of my career. It’s how people first discovered me, and it’s still something I believe in deeply. No one creates in isolation. Music, to me, has always been about exchange, shared energy and building something together rather than chasing moments.”
Protecting her energy
Despite being labelled a modern muse, she resists fixed definitions. “I see myself as an unlimited creative,” she says. Music remains central to her identity, she explains, but her interests extend into fashion, fitness and beauty. Existing across multiple spaces, she adds, allows her to express herself without restriction.
“It was always my aim to build a career on intention rather than speed. The plan for me was to be organic and do what felt right when it felt right, and that has shaped the pace and trajectory of my career. I’m not one to seek relevance to get ahead, but I feel if you live authentically then you will always be where you’re supposed to be and at the time you’re actually supposed to be there.”
Protecting her energy has become an evolving practice. She jokes that staying home helps, but speaks more seriously about learning boundaries.
Being anchored in faith has helped her navigate the pressures of visibility, and she has grown more comfortable with saying no, because for her, access does not equal entitlement.
When asked about luxury in music and culture from a woman’s perspective, she says it’s the standard you set for yourself. “It’s the way you approach your craft, the way you present yourself and the care you take in how you show up. That standard naturally draws in the right audience and allows you to connect with people who share similar values,” she adds.
“Luxury is also ownership. Agency and autonomy to do what it is you want to do and have people co-sign that. Ownership is choosing intention over permission and getting to decide how you want to be seen, heard or remembered. I want my music to live in people’s hearts.
“That is why when I create a song, I create it with that intention. I’m a lover girl, always. To me, legacy is about impact, how what you do makes people feel, and how your craft leaves a mark on this world.”
Asked to complete the phrase “The night is ours when women…”, she answers without hesitation.
“The night is ours when women are free to exist and thrive in a world that is safe and holds space for them.”
Original article appeared on GQ
