Mthatha songbird all hyped up for the Arts
‘Amazulu’ hitmaker to take part in jazz festival programme
MULTI-AWARD winning musician Amanda Black will make her National Arts Festival (Naf ) debut next month – a performance she is looking forward to.
The Mthatha-born songbird will make her debut at the Naf next month when she takes part in the Standard Bank Jazz Festival programme.
The 24-year-old singer, whose real name is Amanda Anthony, took South Africa by storm with the release of her hit single Amazulu in 2016. She went on to scoop multiple awards at last year’s South African Music Awards (Samas), where she won album of the year for Amazulu, best newcomer of the year, best female artist of the year and best R & B soul reggae album.
She also won the best R & B single and the listener’s choice award at last year’s Metro FM Music Awards.
Speaking with the Saturday Dispatch this week, Black said she was looking forward to making her debut at the Naf next month.
“I have always wanted to perform at the festival. It has always been a dream for me before I became Amanda Black.
“Besides performing there, I have never seen what the festival is about.
“Even now I am contemplating going a day before my performance so that I can explore,” she said, adding that she was honoured to have been invited to perform at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival.
“This is a big deal for me. Performing in my home province is always great and now I get to do that at the National Arts Festival,” she said.
The singer cannot wait to release new music after having enjoyed major success last year.
“I am back in the studio now making new music. I will be releasing some new material this year. I don’t want to say when or what but I know people have been saying I am quiet.
“I need them to know that I am still here and working on some new material,” she said, adding that apart from her new material, she was also working on a number of projects.
“There is a lot I am cooking but I can’t say yet. It’s all exciting stuff,” she said.
Reflecting on her fame, Black said she was grateful her mother had been strict when she was growing up.
“I remember when I was 18, I was ready to come to Johannesburg and she was like ‘no’.
“I stayed in Port Elizabeth until I finished my degree and it was only after that did she say I can go. If I had left then I don’t think I would be where I am right now. Even now when things are happening in my life, my mother is the first person who I consult.”
When asked if she would be working with musician Sjava, who co-wrote Amazulu with her, Black said she would love to do a duet with the Isina Muva hitmaker.
“Right now it’s just me and my producer in studio but I know Sjava and I will produce a song together,” she said.
To book tickets for Black’s performance in Grahamstown, go to:
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