Charting His Own Course

From starting an indie label to launching his fourth album, singer Chad Saaiman shows no sign of slowing down

- Bernd Fischer

I have a greater understanding of what I want, now more than ever before,’ says Cape Town-based singer-songwriter Chad Saaiman. ’My sound has evolved not only with the selection of new and talented producers I work with, but also in terms of the concepts and content of my releases.’

Saaiman began establishing his R&B/pop sound with the release of his debut album, Chasing Melodies, in 2009 (but some fans might remember Saaiman’s appearance on the first season of Idols South Africa in 2002). The commercially successful release went on to receive a South African Music Award nomination for Best Pop Album: English.

Now, shortly after dropping his EP Future Forever in 2017, Saaiman is gearing up for another album release this year. ‘I haven’t released an album in four years and I know it’s time since all my albums drop when my life takes an unexpected turn,’ he reveals. ‘I guess you could call it a love/hate album.’ One of these turns Saaiman may be referring to involves surviving an attempted hijacking in 2011 when he was shot in the stomach.