CHENESAI Chirombe is positioning herself as one of Zimbabwe’s most distinctive emerging voices, blending jazz, alternative indie and R&B into what she calls “high vibrational soulful music”.
Professionally known as Saiiren, the 26-year-old told NewsDay Life & Style that she has been a singer since childhood.
At the age of six, Saiiren joined the school choir and ever since then music has been a part of her childhood and that early foundation has evolved into a creative practice.
She went on to reveal that song ideas flow from personal experience and emotional states.
“Just allow that to flow into my music,” she explains.
Her creative process begins with a beat — one she composes herself or receives from collaborators.
From there, she refines the writing, builds a hook and shapes the arrangement.
The result is music she hopes will be instantly recognisable.
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Saiiren added that she drew inspiration from R&B artistes, naming Nina Simone, Billie Eilish, Willow Smith, Jhené Aiko and RAYE.
“Their unique style influenced me to create a sound that is unique to myself and very identifiable as soon as you hear the first few seconds,” she says.
That cross-genre inspiration is reflected not only in vocal timbre and songwriting, but in her do-it-yourself approach to production.
One standout in her catalogue is Show Me, a collaboration co-written with Simba’rashé during his recent visit to Zimbabwe.
She describes the song’s writing and recording as “so intentional”, calling it her favourite to date because of the connection and care poured into the production.
Live performance and ritual are central to Saiiren’s practice.
She says rehearsals are important, adding that she made time to meditate and pray with her band before stepping onto the stage.
“I can’t get on stage without praying.”
Her most notable performance this year came at Miombo Festival, a milestone she cites as a highlight of her live work.
Saiiren is candid about the emotional toll of the industry.
She describes creative setbacks, writer’s block and business frustrations as part of the journey, responding with grounding, prayer and patience.
“To be patient . . . this creative industry is not a quick and easy one to break through — you truly have to have resilience,” she says.
Building a fan base is a relational effort for Saiiren.
She prioritises getting to know listeners, being transparent about her craft and appreciating supporters in real time.
“I know the people who have always supported me, strangers who I’ve never met and they ride for me in an unbelievable way and I always stay connected with them,” she says.
Looking ahead, Saiiren is in the studio working on an EP she believes will be
“a solid reflection of who I am now”.
At 26, she sees the coming years as a period of artistic and personal growth, with ambitions to expand her live presence and reach new opportunities both regionally and beyond.
