Liezl Maclean: Queen of African Soul
The new diva of South African music, the remarkable Simphiwe Dana brings her slick, joyful and energetic mix of African rhythms, jazz and choral music to the heart of London at the London Jazz Festival at the Pigalle Club on the 19th of November.
Liezl Maclean
Born in the Transkei, Eastern Cape, her name means ‘gift’ and many of her fans would agree that she is just that, a gift to the South African music scene. In a short period of time this “soul sista” has become one of South Africa’s favourite daughters. Her music has a fresh sound and her unique voice complements it perfectly.
Dana entered South African music mainstream in 2004 with her debut album Zandisile. Notching up numerous live appearances in the new millennium with her outspoken views and unique dress sense, it was her debut album that earned her a South African music award for “Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Newcomer”. After the debut comes follow-up album The One Love Movement On Bantu Biko Street.
It may sound cliché, because it has been said of so many female vocalists that come on to the scene these days, that they sound so much like the young Miriam Makebas and Dorothy Masukus, but Dana’s voice does transport you to that golden era in South Africa’s history.
On first listen, One Love sounds strikingly familiar. Just like Zandisile, it makes a great deal of contrasting Dana’s lulling tones and rich, sonorous choruses with flicks of streetwise, savvy jazz. Using nothing but her voice as her instrument of composition, Dana has found a unique way of writing material and a formula that works for her.
Being inspired by life her music is mostly influenced by what is going on in people’s daily lives. Her songs deal with issues such as politics, love and family. The political title opens up a sense of hope with regards to the struggle that the oppressed have dealt with in South Africa. ‘Bantu Biko Street is the only street paved with our hopes and dreams, our golden highway that must first exist in our minds,’ she says.
Dana’s music draws strongly on her upbringing in the Transkei, and she sites the powerful singing of her mother as an inspiration for her and her siblings, and ultimately as a key motivator in her resolve to pursue her musical career.
Dana’s father was a preacher who also had a profound love for church choral music. Dana says religion and gospel music have played a paramount role in both her spiritual life and the secular one. The only way to be closer to God is through music, she says. One love, however, is not just gospel. Traditional African sounds, jazz and choral music all fuse together in this CD.
Exceptional visual styling has brought Dana as much attention as her music has. Inspired by the fashion of China, futuristic elements from Outer Space and various other unconventional sources, her dress sense is something that only she can pull off. She is fast becoming a fashion icon in South Africa, with an evolving style which is incomparable and difficult to pin down.
Honest, humble, strong and heartfelt in every way, her songs are monuments, standing tall in the face of flash-in-the-pan trends and musical genres. Dana’s strength comes through strongest when on stage and performing. Prepare yourself for a dynamic performer and original singer who follows her own musical instinct and whose live show is a must see event destined to blow audiences away. Modern African Soul, indeed.
