Kelly Khumalo on Love, Letting Go and Her New Single ‘Merry Go Round’

After a period of anticipation from fans, award-winning South African singer Kelly Khumalo is back with new music. The singer returns on 4 September with Merry Go Round, her first single of 2026, following the release of her 2023 album Rebirth.

Inspired by a personal experience with a relationship that had evolved into a “situationship”, Merry Go Round explores the feeling of being caught in a cycle where things are neither progressing nor coming to an end. The track was composed by Kinshasa-born producer David Matunda, whose influence can be heard in the song’s vocal production, West African-inspired sound and French section.

While Kelly has built a career exploring Afro-pop, gospel and jazz, Merry Go Round introduces a lighter and more carefree energy. Describing the song as a feel-good track that is “not that deep”, Kelly says this new chapter is simply about having fun.

With a career spanning ten studio albums and a musical journey that has moved across Afro-pop, gospel and jazz, Kelly continues to evolve on her own terms. This time, however, she is embracing a song that is less about taking things too seriously and more about simply having fun.

Check out our interview with Kelly Khumalo below:

1. What inspired you to write  Merry Go Round, and how did your personal experience influence the story behind the song?

The inspiration comes from the fact that I have not written a love song in a minute. Which just so happened that I was in a Situationship at the time which became an influence  in the direction I took in writing Merry Go Round.

2. You describe the relationship that inspired the song as a “situationship.” What do you hope listeners who have experienced something similar take away from the song?

They can learn that not everything needs to be defined and sometimes all you can do is let fate take its course.

3. How does  Merry Go Round represent the beginning of a new chapter in your music career following the release of Rebirth?

The sound, the lyrical content, the easy airy energy tells you that it’s not that deep anymore

4. How did David Matunda’s creative influence shape the track?

If you know David as a producer, you can definitely pick up his level of excellence when it comes to vocals production, west African inspired sound not mention the French part on the song which is  in his home language.

5. You have explored Afro-pop, gospel and jazz throughout your career. Where would you place  Merry Go Round within your musical evolution?

I’ve always been an evolving artist, however Merry Go Round is a feel good song that’s is neither here nor there… it’s not that deep we are just having FUN.

As Kelly enters this next chapter, Merry Go Round offers fans a different side of the artist, one that is relaxed, playful and unburdened by the need to define every feeling. After years of charting her own path and famously living by the mantra, “I run my own race,” Kelly appears ready to simply enjoy the ride.

Merry Go Round is available on all major streaming platforms from 4 September.