Azaria on vulnerability, motherhood and finding her voice

In moments of uncertainty, growth, and quiet reflection, musician Azaria discovered that the songs she wrote to help her process her emotions were helping others feel seen too.

In a candid conversation with tjil, Azaria said music became the place where she could finally say the things that felt too heavy to say out loud.

The emotions she struggled to voice found their way into melodies and lyrics instead.

“Music was not just something I enjoyed. It was something I was meant to do.”

Blending R&B, hip-hop and Afrikaans

Azaria’s sound lives at the intersection of two powerful genres, R&B and hip-hop.

But what makes it unmistakably hers is the way she weaves Afrikaans into the mix, creating a sound that feels both deeply personal and culturally rooted.

At its core, her music is about emotion and storytelling. Hip-hop gives her the space to tell those stories with honesty, while R&B allows the emotion behind them to breathe. “Combining the two gives me the freedom to be vulnerable, confident and expressive all at the same time,” she explained.

Her hope is that people feel something real when they listen.

“If my music can help someone process their emotions or give them strength, then I feel like I’ve done what I set out to do.”

Looking back at her journey so far, one song continues to hold a special place in her heart.

Titled 'Laat Gaan', the track became one of her most successful releases, reaching two million views on YouTube within six months.

But for Azaria, the numbers are not what make the song meaningful. It was released during one of the most vulnerable seasons of her life, shortly after she had brought a baby into the world.

“Seeing people connect with the song, share it and sing along is something I will never take for granted,” she said.

True to form, Azaria continues to lean into vulnerability.

Her next project, an EP titled ‘Hier is my hart’ (Here is my heart), promises to be her most personal body of work yet. Without revealing too much, she described the project as honest, raw and emotionally layered. The EP explores themes of love, heartbreak, healing and self-reflection while continuing to blend the R&B and hip-hop influences that define her sound, all while staying deeply rooted in her Afrikaans identity.

She chooses to make music in Afrikaans intentionally, as this, she says, is “the language that feels most natural to express my emotions and tell my stories.” Beyond this, her hope is to redefine the perception of Afrikaans music, by blending different genres, and showing that it too, can be “modern, fresh and versatile”.

Connecting across borders

And while her story is still unfolding, her audience is already growing beyond Namibia.

According to Azaria, nearly 90% of her listeners are in South Africa, something that has opened the door to exciting new possibilities.

Plans for a South African tour are already underway. “The goal is to connect with fans there, perform the music live, and build meaningful relationships within the industry,” she said. “It’s definitely an important step in growing my career and reaching new listeners.”

Despite the milestones and growing recognition, Azaria measures success differently.

For her, it has never only been about numbers or accolades. Success, she says, is about the impact her music has on people’s lives.

“If my songs can impact lives, inspire others and allow me to keep creating authentically while growing as an artist, then I consider that true success,” she said with a smile. "And maybe some Grammys wouldn’t hurt.”