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Written byZubayr Charles
She is alternative, authentic, and Afrikaans – she is Cara Rossouw.
Cara Rossouw is a name that you do not want to forget! The multi-talented creative being can be described as a musician, songwriter, actress, playwright, and quite recently a viral TikTok sensation. Aside from her various roles, Cara can certainly be described as a rising star who is soon to shake up South Africa’s theatre and Afrikaans music scene. If asked to define her sound, a straightforward answer will not be given. In society today, we as humans cannot be boxed and moulded to fit into one category or subset – Cara’s artistry matches this notion.
“I would say Alt Pop (Alternative Pop), but to be honest, I’m still finding my sound and playing around with it,” Cara first mentions. Her single Joune (Yours) leans into Pop Rock territory, whilst her latest single Lewensredder (Life-saver) ventures into alternative landscapes with its soft rock drums and electric guitar elements cutting through its emotional intensity. “I love focusing the sound around my lyrics — whatever the meaning of the song calls for,” she adds. “I’m also a sucker for ambient, emotional soundscapes.”
Cara’s journey into music has not entirely been conventional. As a young girl, her first muse was none other than Hannah Montana, and just like Miley Cyrus, Cara wanted to explore both a career in music and dramatic arts. After graduating in 2022 from Stellenbosch University with a BA Honours in Drama (specialising in Cabaret), Cara starred in her one-woman cabaret Adapt or Die. In 2024, her debut play Na Die Dood Ons Skei premiered at the Suidoosterfees as part of the NATi Jong Sterre programme, and she had a leading role in The Battered Housewives’ Club that was showcased at the Women’s Humanity Arts Festival at Artscape Theatre.
Growing up, Cara knew that she was chasing a dream that many considered impractical. “All my life, I’ve been told it’s not the smart choice to go into entertainment,” she admits. “My parents both studied medicine. They were stressed at first, as they wanted me to have a financially secure career path. They constantly encouraged me to have a Plan B, but I know that this is what I’m made for. As opportunities start rolling in, they’re more comfortable. They’re very supportive now and watch everything I do.”
“In society today, we as humans cannot be boxed and moulded to fit into one category or subset – Cara’s artistry matches this notion. ‘I would say Alt Pop (Alternative Pop), but to be honest, I’m still finding my sound and playing around with it,’ Cara first mentions.”
For Cara, the challenges didn’t end there. “A lecturer once told me that being able to pay rent is what makes you successful as an actor in South Africa. I know I’d rather be poor and happy. If something is for you, nothing can take it away.”
What sets Cara apart is her refusal to conform to the expectations of Afrikaans music. “There’s a stigma that Afrikaans music is shallow,” she mentions. “Spoegwolf broke that for me. Their lyrics and sound made me realise how beautiful the language is, especially when you add heart and soul to it.”
Her influences span far beyond the local. Gracie Abrams and Lizzy McAlpine inform her lyrical honesty, while Billie Eilish and Renee Rapp inspire her vocal versatility. On the experimental front, artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan serve as her benchmarks. “Chappell’s stage presence and aesthetic, the way Olivia has fun with her sound—it’s what I aspire to. I love how they create entire worlds around their art. I’m still getting there, but that’s who I look up to.” Other South African artists like Francois van Coke, Karen Zoid, and Tasché round out her list. “Authenticity and alternative, experimental sound—that’s what I’m into.”
As seen with many artists, Cara’s music pulls from deeply personal experiences. Her single Lewensredder is no exception, as it has become one of my most-played songs on Apple Music. “I dated a former lifeguard, which inspired the name,” she explains. “The relationship came unexpectedly, at a time when I thought being independent and single was the best thing in the world. I disliked even the idea of love and trust. But it taught me how to let go again, how to trust and find beauty in companionship.”
As a fan, I was excited to hear about Cara’s writing process which can be described as intuitive and fluid. “Sometimes the lyrics come first, other times I’ll hum a melody while playing the guitar. I let the music flow through me. I trust the process.”
So what makes Cara’s music unique in the crowded landscape of Afrikaans and South African musicians? “I think it’s my focus on emotional soundscapes and my willingness to experiment. I’m not afraid to let my lyrics drive the sound. The language is beautiful, and I want to show that.”
“There’s a stigma that Afrikaans music is shallow,” she mentions. “Spoegwolf broke that for me. Their lyrics and sound made me realise how beautiful the language is, especially when you add heart and soul to it.”
With her feet firmly planted in music, theatre, and writing, Cara Rossouw isn’t just chasing a dream – she’s living it. And as she carves her space on South Africa’s creative stage, she leaves us with this. “If something is for you, nothing can take it away from you.”
With talent, tenacity, and a voice all her own, just remember that there’s something about Cara — and you’re going to want to keep listening.
Support Cara by checking out her music here:
