NOT since Norah Jones have I been blown away by such a soulful voice.
Two qualities stand out when you listen to Bongi Mvuyana: a dynamic voice and a tranquil sound that enables the mind to elope to a parallel universe.
Like Jones, Mvuyana's music - termed alternative soul - is a fusion of soul and jazz, intriguing sounds and a sultry pop-jazzy voice.
Her music is easy to love.
"I think infusing sounds will never stop because as a musician you become inspired by what you listen to and other musicians.
"I think you should never try very hard or follow a trend. As soon as you stay true to yourself as a musician, then that's how you define yourself," Mvuyana says.
She says she found her voice in church choirs at an early age.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Imbali township in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, is a hard worker who believes in achieving great feats. She still speaks proudly of getting a poem published at the age of 12.
A passion for poetry and writing music with deep meaning are the two catalysts that make up her debut album, Dopamine, which was released two weeks ago.
The well-spoken artist has many talents and runs and updates her own website (bongimvuyana.com).
She says marketing is something she loves. After launching Dopamine she has everyone from media to fans, fellow artists and critics, singing her praises.
"I am a marketer by day, singer-songwriter by night. I always knew I was going to be a singer. I love marketing because it is also pivotal to what I do as a musician," says the marketing graduate.
Her music career has made inroads since dropping singles Sweet Love, Gold and I Wonder last year.
The single I Wonder went to number 12 on the Metro FM Top 30 charts, Gold made its debut on YFM's Hot99 RnB countdown and peaked to number five on Vuma FM's Top 30 countdown.
Tiago Correia-Paulo of reggae band 340ml produced the 12-track album, with Kabomo and Pedro da Silva Pinto from 340ml as the only guest appearances.
On how her music sound was discovered, Mvuyana says: "We came up with a sound we didn't know how to box it in.
"And I loved it because it was so experimental. I have experimented with a lot of sounds, genres and tones."
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Bongi's Soulful sounds blow you away
NOT since Norah Jones have I been blown away by such a soulful voice.
Two qualities stand out when you listen to Bongi Mvuyana: a dynamic voice and a tranquil sound that enables the mind to elope to a parallel universe.
Like Jones, Mvuyana's music - termed alternative soul - is a fusion of soul and jazz, intriguing sounds and a sultry pop-jazzy voice.
Her music is easy to love.
"I think infusing sounds will never stop because as a musician you become inspired by what you listen to and other musicians.
"I think you should never try very hard or follow a trend. As soon as you stay true to yourself as a musician, then that's how you define yourself," Mvuyana says.
She says she found her voice in church choirs at an early age.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Imbali township in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, is a hard worker who believes in achieving great feats. She still speaks proudly of getting a poem published at the age of 12.
A passion for poetry and writing music with deep meaning are the two catalysts that make up her debut album, Dopamine, which was released two weeks ago.
The well-spoken artist has many talents and runs and updates her own website (bongimvuyana.com).
She says marketing is something she loves. After launching Dopamine she has everyone from media to fans, fellow artists and critics, singing her praises.
"I am a marketer by day, singer-songwriter by night. I always knew I was going to be a singer. I love marketing because it is also pivotal to what I do as a musician," says the marketing graduate.
Her music career has made inroads since dropping singles Sweet Love, Gold and I Wonder last year.
The single I Wonder went to number 12 on the Metro FM Top 30 charts, Gold made its debut on YFM's Hot99 RnB countdown and peaked to number five on Vuma FM's Top 30 countdown.
Tiago Correia-Paulo of reggae band 340ml produced the 12-track album, with Kabomo and Pedro da Silva Pinto from 340ml as the only guest appearances.
On how her music sound was discovered, Mvuyana says: "We came up with a sound we didn't know how to box it in.
"And I loved it because it was so experimental. I have experimented with a lot of sounds, genres and tones."
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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