Rising South African Musicians To Listen To Now

Since it’s always a joy to check out new discoveries, Impulse Africa Magazine is here to give a nod to Rising South African Musicians you should have on your playlists.  

• Shanya

Newcomer on the block and she is making waves in the music industry.

Fresh on the scene, Shanya is an 18-year-old South African singer songwriter, whose debut single Here For You has remain a prominent marker for these uncertain times.

After the successful release of Here For You – a beautiful love song about long distance relationships – singer songwriter Shanya followed it up with a heartfelt music video.

The aim with the video was to put a picture to words. Here For You is a very personal story, because it shares intimate details of Shanya’s own relationship.

Shaya says lockdown inspired her to come up with the hit single, which talks about her long distance relationship.

Her music comes from an honest place with themes of love that anyone can relate to.

• Namakua Star

Namakau Star is an alternative RnB and Hip-Hop artist with a sharp pen and a refreshing vocal approach to music, she weaves words together with soulful melodies, switching effortlessly between lyricism and singing. 

She often describes herself as a genre-bender, and her supporters call her the Vibe Goddess for her electrifying live performances.

Namakau Star of Zambian descent was born in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg but spent her early twenties experiencing the vastness of Gauteng, from early beginnings in Pretoria to living in the thick of the inner city of Johannesburg.

She now resides in the mother city Cape Town with her sights set on taking genre-bending to the world.

With her debut EP which is set to be released in 2022, Namakau Star is certainly ready to take her place in this world as a creative, with her growing support base.

The Paradise Sound Systems newly signed artist recently released a new honeyed single titled Rewind an ethereal ode to freedom and flow.  

ALSO READ: Shanya earning her stripes with debut single Here For You: Interview

• Hunter Rose

Hunter Rose is a rising R&B and neo-soul singer from Cape Town, South Africa, who wows audiences with her energetic performances. The singer-songwriter is recognized for fusing soul and jazz with neo-R&B components to produce a sleek and contemporary body of work.

Hunter’s style is highly distinctive, incorporating the essence of her identity every time she performs, drawing inspiration from acts like D’Angelo and Anita Baker as well as the rhythmic stylings of deep house and trap.

Her latest single release, Forever Yours has been described by Slikour On Life as a dedication to all her certified lover boys, hopeless romantics and lovers without a lover. Forever Yours is the lead single from her upcoming Butterfly EP.

•  Cara Frew

Cara Frew is a South African born singer-songwriter whose music is wrapped in pop vocals and an earthy feel, with organic elements that are driven by acoustic guitar and African drums. 

Cara’s debut album, Flame, was released through Sony Music Entertainment worldwide, with her hit single, Free, nominated for a SAMA, her collaboration with American DJ SNBRN, “You Got Me,” reaching over ten million plays on Spotify & Soundcloud and album spiking interest as she opened for internationally acclaimed UK band “The Script” on the South African leg of their world tour.

The local pop sensation recently followed up the success of her single ‘Rise’ with her breezy, infectious new single ‘Electric Feels’.

Always wearing her heart on her sleeve, Cara Frew sings about a forbidden love in the acoustic pop track.

• Lordkez

Born in the humble town of Kimberley, the artist, singer and songwriter Keziah Zoë Meyers, known to her fans as lordkez, has sculpted a unique style of music with gentle beats and down-to-earth lyrics.

lordkez’s voice exists on an ethereal plane. In one moment, it can drill into the souls with the strength of a full choir.

In the next, it’s blissfully soothing, sweeping whoever is lucky enough to hear it into a cloud of comfort. It always commands attention.

Her latest offering “midsummer” which recently reached a milestone of 1 million streams on Spotify is a beautiful blend of RnB & Soul. With some dance and hip-hop notes that brings the impressive diversity out of one of South Africa’s rising voices.