Nia Pearl is riding high on a wave of recognition at this year’s Metro FM Awards, securing four major nominations that celebrate her breakout collaboration on the smash hit Shela alongside Sam Deep and Boohle. The singer and songwriter has impressed the awards judging panel across multiple categories—Best Collaboration, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, and Best Amapiano—cementing her position as one of South Africa’s most exciting emerging talents in the amapiano space.
Speaking to us about the nominations, Nia expressed genuine excitement about what the recognition means for her career trajectory. “Every nomination is a blessing, but the Song of the Year nomination excites me the most,” she explained. For her, this particular nod resonates deeper than industry accolades alone—it’s validation that her music has genuinely connected with listeners across the country. “That category represents how deeply a track resonates with people, and knowing my music has touched so many lives is the ultimate reward,” she told TshisaLIVE.
Her path to this moment reads like a genuine South African success story. Nia’s musical journey didn’t begin on a major label or in a recording studio—it started in the most authentic place possible: family gatherings and the pages of her notebook. “Back then I dreamt of stages and recognition, but I could not have imagined the reality of being nominated for a Metro FM Award,” she reflected. “It feels surreal, yet it is the universe affirming I am on the right path.”
What drives Nia’s creative process is deeply rooted in lived experience. She draws inspiration from everyday life, love, resilience, and the rhythm of our communities—the very things that make South African music so compelling on the global stage. For her, writing is less about technical perfection and more about emotional authenticity. “Writing is like storytelling for me; I weave emotions into melodies,” she said. On stage, this philosophy extends beyond audio—she curates immersive performances that blend sound, visuals, and movement, ensuring audiences feel like active participants rather than passive observers.
Nia Pearl’s Metro FM Awards nominations signal her rise in South Africa’s competitive music landscape
The Enchanted Mantra hitmaker has already built an impressive collaborative resume, having worked with some of the country’s heaviest hitters. DJ Maphorisa, Kabza De Small, Kelvin Momo, Major League DJz, and Nkosazana Daughter have all featured on her tracks, each collaboration adding layers to her artistic credibility. Yet despite these achievements, Nia’s ambitions extend even further—she’s openly eyeing international collaborations with global superstars.
Her wish list includes Grammy-award-winning artist Tems, whose soulful sound has clearly left an impression on Nia’s creative consciousness. She’s equally keen to work with Tyla, whose viral hit Water demonstrated to the world that South African talent can absolutely command global attention. But Nia’s vision doesn’t stop at contemporary stars—she’s also expressed a desire to collaborate with legends like Yvonne Chaka Chaka, viewing such a partnership as an opportunity to honour our musical heritage. “Her timeless classics carry the spirit of our heritage,” Nia noted.
There’s also genuine appreciation for Beatenberg’s indie-African fusion sound, which she sees as complementary to her own evolving style. “Each of these artists has a unique voice and style, and together we could create something timeless that blends amapiano with their distinct sounds,” she explained. This collaborative vision reveals an artist thinking strategically about growth and cultural currency.
Looking ahead, Nia is preparing to release fresh material that promises to showcase her creative range. She’s conscious of creating music that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. “My goal has always been to create music that feels personal yet universal, so that whether someone is in Soweto, Durban or Cape Town, they can find a piece of themselves in it,” she said. Her upcoming releases will push creative boundaries, introducing new singles, collaborations, and live performances that explore sonic territories beyond traditional amapiano frameworks.
What’s particularly intriguing is her commitment to blending live instrumentation across multiple genres, suggesting that Nia Pearl isn’t interested in being confined to a single lane. “I am also working on a project that blends live instrumentation with all genres so expect something innovative and heartfelt,” she revealed. This year, she’s positioning as a period of deliberate growth—both for herself as an artist and for her growing fanbase who’ll journey alongside her evolving sound. The Metro FM nominations feel less like a destination and more like confirmation that Nia Pearl is exactly where she’s meant to be.