New young voices make their mark in the music industry

LIAM KARABO JOYCE

CRACKING it in the entertainment industry is no easy feat. Doing so in the music business is even harder. We could list a number of singers who burst onto the scene with a smashing single and tons of potential who simply remained one-hit wonders, but we won’t. As long as the list of one-hit wonders is, so is the list of stars who shine through with their fi rst single and go on to create multiple hits and win awards. Their music is consumed by the masses and in their own way, they change the face of music.

In South Africa, there is no denying that we have some of the best musicians and even producers in the world. Exports like Black Coffee have proved our talent knows no borders and a new age of musicians is hot on the heels of stars such as Coee, Busiswa, Muzi, Bongeziwe Mabandla, Nakhane, Jeremy Loops, Moonchild, and others. One such rising star is Tyla. After racking up nearly two million views independently and receiving glowing early praise for her hit single Getting Late and receiving praise from i-D, Paper Magazine and more, the singer and songwriter has inked a global deal with Epic Records. Born and raised in Johannesburg, Tyla grew up listening to American RnB triple-threats like Aaliyah and Cassie. It is these MTV TRL staples of the day, mixed with a curation of homegrown sonics like SA House, Gqom and Amapiano that shape Tyla’s sound.

Meshing the richness of South Africa’s diverse music scene with international influences, she is part of an active new generation of African creatives proudly sharing their culture with the global community on social media. “I’m proud of being South African and I want to take Africa everywhere I go. It’s amazing how social media connects me with the world. TikTok allows me to express myself and show the world our South African dance moves like Pouncing Cat and the Gwara Gwara,” Tyla said.

“I actually have a challenge for this video that combines some SA moves, so it’s like a little window into our culture. You have the Harlem Shake and we all know that, so you must also know how to ‘Vuli Gate’.” This concept of worlds colliding is nothing new to Tyla. It’s in her blood, with a diverse heritage that stems from Indian, African and Mauritian roots, to name a few. With Getting Late steadily making waves around the globe, Tyla now sets her focus on building a career as a multi-hyphenate entertainer and shining a spotlight on Africa.

“I’m a singer first and foremost, but I love acting, dancing, drawing, and writing. I just love to express myself in all these different ways and I hope to explore all of these paths as I grow as an artist. I want to build a legacy for my family and South Africa. I see myself involving a lot of African people wherever I can just to build the continent and bring the world’s attention to us,” she said.

Another new voice on the scene is Nomfundo Moh who just released the latest single, uMthwalo, which is off her upcoming album, Amagama. Nomfundo describes her music as authentic to who she is, from its sound to visuals.

Nomfundo delivers passionate vocals and consuming harmonies in Zulu, over a sparse Afropop instrumental with strong elements of trap soul.

“Umthwalo is a song about hope. It talks about the difficulties of life, how everyone has got a burden on their shoulders.

Most importantly, it encourages people to talk about things that bothers their soul as someone is always willing to listen. Depending on how you feel, the meaning of the song can be religious, where you get to pour your heart out to God, so you feel lighter. Listening to it as an Afropop song, it’s more of confiding in someone you trust instead of bottling all the negativity inside,” said Nomfundo.

“I would like people to pay attention to my lyrical content. In every song, there’s a story, and that story is a gift from me to them. And the sound, that sound is unique, I’d like people to treasure it and let it be one of the things that remind them of being an African.“

Building street cred with his cult-like fan base, Blxckie is a breakout artist who is also leading the pack of new wave musicians as an acknowledged rapper, vocalist and producer.

Born Sihle Sithole, Blxckie, who is also known as Somnyama Yena Yedwa, is a Durban-born artist who has broken the internet with hit after hit, placing him at the forefront of SA hip hop and trap soul.

Capturing the essence of being a new wave artist, his debut album B4Now is one that boldly narrates his rising music career.

“I think it’s important as an artist to tell your story through music and, more importantly, I’m about community and I love people. South Africa won’t grow or change with just one person, the music industry won’t grow by doing things alone,” said Blxckie.