A colourful explosion of music and art
Artist Elo Zar is unique because she remains true to herself
Heads turn when artist and musician Elo Zar walks into a room.
This is because the pint-sized beauty with striking pink bongo braids has made a decision to let her appearance speak for her before her music actually does. Elo Zar, whose real name is Lerato Sellane, tells Time Out that she is also a painter and as such, playing around with colour is in her nature.
“I don’t understand why people limit themselves. We have so many colours to play around with [why] choose only black and white,” she giggles.
With the unmissable hairdo she no doubt having fun with her image. She has shaved the sides of her head and is tugged in a velvet-blue head scarf. She is an explosion of colour, with a floral carnival-like baseball jacket, a cream wool mini dress, black stockings and bright yellow stiletto pumps.
Fresh from her sold-out music show Surreal So Real at The Market Photo Workshop in Newtown, Joburg, on the eve of youth day, Elo Zar talks about the joys and hardships of being one of a few electro-pop musicians in the country.
She says she had to decide whether to win the majority of listeners in her community of Soweto by playing jazz or kwaito music, but she decided to be true to her passion. Elo Zar’s first taste of music and studio time was when she featured on house music tracks. She believes that her big break came when she became Vusi Nova’s back-up singer.
Elo Zar’s music is unique. The magic she makes with her eight-piece band is remarkable. She is no stranger to the international stage either. Her unique sound has taken her to Texas, US, where she performed at the SXSW Music Festival, popular for showcasing some of the world’s freshest talent.
Elo Zar, who is originally from Moroka, Soweto, is one of three siblings, but she lost her brother to drugs while her father passed away when she was at a tertiary institution. Her favourite track is Rabubi by Moon Child. She has also collaborated with Canadian art collective Pattern Nation. She is now preparing for her next show in September.