Lady Zamar is ready to fly higher
CHOIR GIRL: THIS SOULFUL SONGSTRESS IS STEPPING OUT FROM THE SHADOWS
‘I realised the impact my voice had on people back in 2009, at church.’
Seventh Day Evangelist church choir girl Yamkela Banda, better known by her award-winning artist name Lady Zamar, is earning star status among her peers in the SA music industry.
“I was born in Tembisa but grew up in Pretoria West, I am a songwriter, philanthropist and lover of art and literature.”
As the second daughter to her accountant mother and electrical engineer father, Zamar paints a colourful upbringing full of challenges, which made her the bold and tenacious woman she is today.
Often misunderstood, the soulful songstress defines her years in school as often being picked on by other children for her English accent, which she admits having acquired from watching a lot of British television shows, as well as hearing her father’s accent.
“People always thought I was a snob, based on the way I spoke, and that was part of the reason why I moved schools.
“The word Zamar means praising God in music and my name Yamkela means praise as a command, so I understood the deeper meaning of my birth name and included it in my pseudonym.”
The passionate vocalist admits to having to sneak in and out of studio on Sundays and hiding her face on social media and publicity pictures with reference to American pop singer Sia.
But it seemed as though her destiny will soon force her to step out of the shadows.
It was in 2014, after giving an outstanding poetry session, that a young gentleman walked up to her and later introduced her to a young local DJ and producer Junior Taurus – and a hot duo was established. Their first single, a sultry house song titled Run Away, got the attention of radio stations and club DJs, putting pressure on them to stay on top of their game.
In late 2015, the two released another club-banger, Mamelodi (mother of melody), which is one of the vibrant districts within Pretoria township areas. The song become a favourite among fans and saw the pair performing across the country.
Shortly after the success of the song, the duo parted ways and the rebirth of Lady Zamar occurred.
Now a solo artist, she signed with Universal Music and soon after released her debut album, King Zamar.
Since the release of her album, Zamar has received numerous awards and nominations, as well as graced the stages of prestigious ceremonies such as the 2017 Metro FM music awards and DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards ... and this is only the beginning.
“I still have a lot to give my fans and supporters who have influenced the release of my deluxe album, together with a documentary. I hope it will give them a deeper look into the making of the music,” she said.