BY AMANDA MABUZA
MBABANE– Eswatini’s emerging singer and songwriter Nkosiyabongwa Dlamini today performed her first debut extended play (EP) ‘Call Me and Skin’ live on South Africa’s number one show The Expresso Morning Show.
The R&B/Soul artist from Manzini started her music career in 2015 where she became a member of a band that she formed with her friends. The band was known as ‘’The Afroctaves’ and she was the lead Vocalist.
She told SABC3 presenter that it was her first-time experience to record and write her own song.
’’It has always been a dream for me as a child watching the Morning Expresso show on Television. I wanted to be on the spotlight one day, doing what I love which is music. In fact, this dream has since come true’’ she said.
Dlamini explained that she is actively involved in the creation of all of her music videos and has faced fewer challenges in recording her Debut EP Call Me and Skin. She attributed this to all the love and support from her family and friends. She stated that her debut was received well by music fans.
Dlamini further stated that now that her music is out, she is open for bookings and she is ready to get into the whole vibe of interacting with fans while performing. She stated that she believes she has more to offer in the music industry.
This publication has established that iYA‘s passion for soul music started during her first performance at the Jazz Gallery in 2017 where she did a single jazz standard as a feature. However, she did her first solo performance at the Jazz Gallery at Hilton Garden Inn on March 31, 2023.
She was also one of the local artists who performed at the MTN BUSHFIRE 2023 16TH edition. IYA Music career is looking bright in the entertainment industry.
BIO
SINGER/SONGWRITER
- iYA born Nkhosiyabongwa Dlamini modest of her innate gift of Voice, which awakens the inner parts of the human soul with a deep love for music.
- Music Life for her began when she became a member of a Band formed with friends “The Afroctaves” as the lead Vocalist. In 2015 the band entered the T55 National Talent Search competition and made it to semi finals.
- Since then she has been nurturing her talent participating in numerous recordings as a session singer, writer and vocal arranger.
- She believes music expresses feelings that words alone cannot. As beautiful and powerful music is, she sees it as a perfect way to touch souls, mend hearts and heal people emotionally.
- Simplistic and Natural in approach her sound is a blend of soul RnB and Modern/contemporary Jazz. She Attributes Gospel and the 90’s Soul/RnB to her Childhood and early music development.
- iYA draws inspiration from God and from a number of Soul/Jazz musicians like Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding, H.E.R. and PJ Morton. She has been influenced by the likes of Erika Badu, Alex Isley, Olivia Dean, . to name a few.
- Her most memorable performances include:
- Youth Jazz Sessions (2018) by Into Music Society
- A Night With Ariana-House on Fire 2022
- Straight Up her debut EP,Packed with soul searching sounds Straight Up is a culmination of uplifting ,encouraging and illuminating Freedom. Recorded during the Covid pandemic lockdown The EP is centered around Straight Up the title track, a song about going for your dreams/calling in spite of dreary voices around you and embracing being different with confidence.iYA excavates a deeply emotional and soulful blare as she carries the listener to a place of relaxation and profound thought on account of her clever use of lyrics and velvety vocals.
