Nanette Steps Into Her Power With Painfully Happy

South African singer and songwriter Nanette has returned with Painfully Happy, a record that feels less like an album and more like an unveiling. It’s an intimate body of work where her voice, her stories, and her vulnerability converge, cementing her place as one of the brightest voices shaping contemporary R&B and soul today.

At the heart of the project lies a striking paradox: how joy and pain can coexist. Nanette explores the irony of success, where even in moments of triumph, a quiet emptiness can surface. The result is an emotional tug-of-war rendered in song, a soundtrack to modern life, complete with its contradictions.

“This project is really just me in my truest form,” Nanette explains. “It’s about the highs that feel surreal and the lows that keep you grounded. Life is ironic like that, you can have everything you thought you wanted, but still be searching for more.”

Across the tracklist, Nanette paints in shades of light and dark. “I’m Not Psycho” brims with cinematic grit, “Abazali” stands as a heartfelt salute to the parents and elders who paved the way, while “Suddenly” radiates optimism with its warm, soaring delivery. Each song reveals another layer of who she is, both as a woman and as an artist—drawing from her South African roots while carrying a sound that can travel the world.

Painfully Happy feels like Nanette’s most complete artistic statement yet. The storytelling is diaristic but cinematic, the themes deeply personal yet widely relatable: identity, womanhood, ambition, faith, and the balancing act of keeping it all together. Her writing is fearless, her delivery understated but commanding, and her sonic palette stretches confidently between R&B, Amapiano, and Afropop.

Since her breakout with Bad Weather and the follow-up The Waiting Room, Nanette has steadily built her lane. High-profile collaborations with names like Kelvin Momo, Nasty C, Blxckie, and Tellaman have showcased her versatility but this new project is the first time she brings it all home. Painfully Happy is her signature, written in bold ink.

Nanette’s connection to her fans, affectionately called The Nesties, has also been central to this journey. Whether through intimate listening sessions, digital community building, or everyday exchanges, she has fostered a space where music becomes more than just sound; it becomes a shared experience.

This release builds on the momentum Nanette carried through Women’s Month, where she was celebrated across platforms as one of South Africa’s most exciting voices. She graced the cover of Apple Music’s ALPHA and was championed by Spotify on Equal Africa and Fresh Finds, amplifying her music during the month-long celebration of women in music.

That recognition only grew stronger, with placements on R&Beats, Release Radar, Feelings FM, and Made in South Africa, further highlighting her versatility and reach. Audiomack echoed this wave of support, featuring her on Female Forces, R&B Gems, and R&B Mzansi, placing her firmly at the center of the new R&B movement.

Capping it all off, Nanette brought her sound to the stage with a stirring live performance on The Espresso Show in Cape Town, proof that her music resonates as powerfully live as it does in the studio.

Beyond that, she continues to take her artistry directly to the people through radio tours and live showcases, giving fans the rare chance to experience her voice and presence up close. With Painfully Happy, Nanette makes it clear: she’s not chasing the spotlight, she’s owning it.