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Most South Africans know Jimmy Nevis for hit songs like Heartboxing, 7764, and All About It. However, most people don’t know that the pop singer, songwriter, and producer had to overcome numerous challenges, including self-doubt and a lack of confidence, to get to where he is today.
Jimmy Nevis’ passion for music stems from his childhood while growing up in the community of Athlone, not far from the Cape Flats. By the time he started primary school, he had already performed at the Baxter Theatre and was never shy to put on a show. However, that soon changed when he got to high school.
“When I got to high school, I realised that maybe singing isn’t the coolest thing. I became quite shy, which turned me into a loner and saw me withdraw into a shell,” says Nevis. “I just didn’t want to sing anymore, my voice was breaking, and it became an awkward time overall.”
It wasn’t until the singer decided to no longer keep his voice a secret by auditioning for a cabaret group in grade nine and singing in front of the entire school that his whole life changed.
Nevis wants to help other talented creatives and entrepreneurs overcome similar challenges that prevent them from establishing their brands, growing their businesses, or breaking into their desired industries through his partnership with Vuma’s My Community Connects project.
“Vuma created the My Community Connects platform for talented South Africans to showcase their businesses and abilities and ultimately get noticed,” says Lianne Williams, Head of Marketing at Vuma. “We want to help these gifted creatives, and social innovators overcome hurdles preventing them from growing their brands by connecting them to mentors, upskilling them, and giving them a platform to showcase their talent.”
Here are Jimmy Nevis’ top tips to help Mzansi talent overcome industry-related challenges and succeed in their respective fields.
Don’t wait to be discovered
When Nevis was ready to release his first single, Elephant Shoes, at 19, he bought blank CDs from a store, made copies of the song, and personally dropped them off at radio stations so they would play them on air.
The singer says waiting to be discovered can eat away at a person’s confidence. However, he says South African creatives and entrepreneurs can overcome this by actively promoting their business or brand without waiting for someone to discover them.
“In the beginning, I didn’t believe in myself and didn’t have the confidence to get on a stage and sing. So I thought I would wait until people discovered me. However, when I decided to put myself out there and knock on as many doors as possible, I began believing 100% in my craft and growing my brand,” he says.
Be aware of industry shifts and trends
Nevis emphasises the importance of entrepreneurs and creatives staying on top of industry changes, especially considering how digital innovations have accelerated the rate at which most of these trends are evolving.
“I come from the music industry, which changes almost every two years. For example, we were still selling physical CDs when I started my career. I think the only digital music channel at the time was iTunes,” says Nevis. “Fast forward to today, and CDs practically don’t exist. Instead, everyone is streaming their music online and paying subscriptions.”
The singer says creatives and entrepreneurs need to take the initiative to educate themselves about the latest industry changes by observing trends on social media to determine how they can adapt to stay relevant.
“I get so much information from YouTube, where I can see what other artists are doing and the sort of music they’re releasing. So, I believe using tools like social media to keep up with what’s happening in the industry is something every entrepreneur and creative should be doing.”
Create a social media presence
The 7764 hitmaker says social media isn’t just a tool for entrepreneurs and creatives to keep up with trends; it can also help keep their brands and businesses top of mind in the market.
“The entire world is on these platforms today, which is why entrepreneurs and creatives can’t overlook them. For example, I struggle to find a business if it isn’t on a popular social platform. So having a presence on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube can help make entrepreneurs and creatives more accessible to customers and fans.”
Connect with a relatable mentor
Nevis says entrepreneurs and creatives looking to break into their respective industries need to find a relatable mentor who can help them take their brand to the next level. He says the best way to go about this is to join platforms that will connect them to industry experts they can relate to.
“I’m a big advocate of mentorship and having relatable mentors in the same industry as you, but, unfortunately, there’s a shortage of mentors. Thankfully, platforms like Vuma’s My Community Connects make accessing a range of industry experts from varying backgrounds even easier. That’s what makes this platform so crucial to the success of the country’s aspiring entrepreneurs and creatives.”
Creatives and entrepreneurs now have access to even more tools geared toward helping them grow their hustles and showcase their craft to the world. So whether you’re an entrepreneur or a creative looking for a platform to help you grow your brand or business, you can enter Vuma’s My Community Connects here.
About Vuma
Vuma is a leading South African fibre provider that has passed more than over 1,5 million homes, with at least a future 2 million homes-passed anticipated in emerging markets, since its operations began in 2014. Vuma connects South African communities to high-speed, fit-for-purpose internet through open-access fibre broadband. Working with more than 60 Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Vuma’s value extends beyond infrastructure and empowers ordinary individuals and communities across South Africa to do more, see more, and dream of more.
Guided by its philosophy of ‘if we can, we must’, Vuma strives to drive transformation and break communication barriers. The brand has connected more than 520 registered primary and high schools in the regions where it operates, to free 1Gbps fibre broadband internet. This supports hundreds of thousands of young people and their teachers through access to the boundless opportunities of the internet, in collaboration with its partner ISPs.
Among Vuma’s accolades are: South Africa’s Best Fibre Provider in 2019 at the MyBroadband Conference and Expo; Fastest Growing Broadband Provider in 2020 and Best Broadband Provider in 2021 by the International Business Magazine Awards; the Global Economics Award for Fastest Growing Telecommunications Company 2021; and Best Fibre Provider for 2021 by MyBroadband.
Vuma’s CEO, Dietlof Mare, was awarded Telecom CEO of the Year 2020 South Africa as well as Telecom CEO of the Year 2021 South Africa by the International Business Magazine Awards.
For more information, visit www.vuma.co.za.