Pertunia Vhutshilo Maemu, best known by her stage name of Pertu Vee, believes that quality music should carry unique sound and lyrics.
The daughter of Maemu Alpheus and Nancy Rendani Ndou, Pertu Vee started her schooling at Muraga Primary School at Hamuraga village outside Thohoyandou in 2002. “All along I knew that music had a certain appeal to me,” she said. “I would hum a tune now and then when I walked around the schoolyard during breaks.”
She matriculated at Thase Secondary School in 2016, but she repeated her Grade 12 to obtain better results to continue her studies. The following year, she passed her matric with flying colours and did her Bachelor of Administration degree.
“I am a perfectionist. When I am not satisfied with the outcome or result of any project, I go back to start afresh,” she said.
Pertu Vee discovered her singing talent at church in 2014, when she joined the worship team of His Majesty Christians Church.
“When Covid-19 and lockdown became the norm last year, I was so disturbed, but I soon focused on music as an artist,” she said. “I took my time on making my dream of being a musician come true, and that’s where I started writing songs. Someone who has inspired me on this musical journey is Nomcebo Zikode. When I first listened to her song Kobanini in 2019, I was bowled over by her voice and her beats.”
Pertu Vee recorded her first album, titled Musadzi wa Muvenda, in June 2020. The album includes songs such as Musadzi wa muvenda, Ezulwini, Khethile-khethile (featuring King Khusta), Khalifare and Zwidoluga.
“On Musadzi wa Muvenda I worked with the famous Ugandan Ragga dancehall artist, Yellowhammer,” she said. She also worked with the legendary band of Elvis Mandiza and Sibasa Pirates as backing vocalist on some of the tracks of their newly released album, Tshikangavhiya.
Pertu Vee was nominated in the Tshivenda Music Awards (TSHIMA) in 2020 as Best Newcomer of the Year. “It made me feel more welcome in the music industry,” she said.
In 2021, Pertu Vee is taking her musical journey further as she is currently working with veterans in the music industry, such as Sir McKleker and other big names.
She can be reached on Tel 076 914 3586 or at [email protected].