(Lu Dlamini)
Talented vocalist Lu Dlamini will appear at Seaman’s Corner,
Hammarsdale for one performance only on November 28.
This performance is supported by Concerts SA and presented
by iSupport. Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian initiative that
aims to stimulate live music in South Africa by finding and implementing ways
to create regular, sustainable performance platforms. It also aims to develop
an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances
and conducting workshops at schools.
No stranger to the stage, whenever talented Lu Dlamini
performs the audience is transfixed by her music and carried on a magical
journey. She is influenced by her journey in life and to a lesser degree, the
many artists she has worked with in her career. It is mostly traditional
African music influences such as amahubo, umakhweyana and isicathamiya that
speak to her as a vocalist and composer. There is also a little bit of
umubholoho (African choral) and an afro jazz element to her sound.
Acoustic by nature, her music features the exquisite
instrumentation by the likes of Sbusiso Zondi on drums, Mazwakhe Gumede on bass
and Barney Bophela on keys.
A product of the esteemed Inanda Seminary, Lu Dlamini moved
to Johannesburg and enrolled at Fuba Arts College to study music. It did not
take the Johannesburg music fraternity long to realize that this was an
exceptional voice. Soon she was in Kamazu’s band, then with Ali Katt, then with
Brenda Fassie, where she stayed for three years. At the same time she was
acting in Zikhethele 3 which was a TV
youth series that was the South African equivalent to the American Fame. This was followed by a 10-year
stint in the band of Sipho Hotstix Mabuse when she toured all over the world
and gained vast amounts of experience on stage as well as in the recording
studio. When her schedule with Hotstix allowed she would also work with
Sankomota and Mango Groove amongst others.
Frequent touring in Europe, America and Japan fostered in
her a healthy patriotic fervour, which led to a period running cultural
exchange programs which are ongoing under the auspices of her artist outreach
programme ‘Art Knows No Boundaries”. In 2010, Ian Osrin of Digital Cupboard introduced
Lu to the world-renowned guitarist Steve Newman and they immediately decided to
work together in the studio. This culminated in the Jikanelanga project. A CD that must still rank as one of the most
beautiful world music albums ever to come out of South Africa. Internationally
her experience attests to her talents as a backing vocalist. Whilst she was a
backing singer for S.A’s world renowned icon (trombonist) Jonas Gwangwa, whose
band was a resident band for M-Net’s (Dali Tambo’s) Night Moves she backed Mick
Hucknall of Simply Red as well as Grace Jones.
In 2011 she also sang on songs by Beyonce, Red Hot Chili
Peppers and Coldplay for Grammy Award-winning American producer, Kenny Young’s
Rhythms Del Mundo project. The call of the Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast where she
grew up was too strong and she relocated to KZN in 2012. She composes her own
music with lyrics in Isinguni, Portuguese and English.
Catch Lu Dlamini on November 28 at 19h00 at Seaman’s Corner,
Hammarsdale (Unit 3). Tickets R30 at the door, on www.webtickets.co.za or at Pick and Pay
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