Afrosoul singer Zola Soul back in East Cape for two shows only

AFROSOUL singer ZolaSoul returns home this weekend for two nights only.

ZolaSoul, whose real name is Zola Futshane, will perform at the inaugural Mandela Bay Legacy Jazz Festival at the Opera House in Port Elizabeth tomorrow.

On Saturday, he will do a special show in East London at the Toast Deli.

Futshane said his love for music dated back to his schooldays in New Brighton in Port Elizabeth. Although he works as a software consultant, he still makes time to do what he loves – music.

After releasing Thando Lokwenene, Futshane relocated to Azerbaijan for a year.

“This meant that I could not focus on promoting the album after releasing it.

“While I was there I still performed with some of the local musicians to keep the fire burning,” he said.

Futshane said when he returned home last year he had tried to push his music, but experienced a couple of hurdles.

“I tried to get a PR team to help me but that didn’t work out but now I want to be a bit more aggressive in my approach.

“There is a lot planned for the new year,” he said.

In Port Elizabeth tomorrow, Futshane said he would perform alongside Lex Futshane (Bra Lex).

“I have been performing with Bra Lex and his band for some time now and I am learning a lot from him.

“They are more jazz and I have been bringing the voice to the mix,” he said.

“My song writing has become interesting since I have been working with them.”

While he has enjoyed performing with the band, he said he did not want people to box him as only doing jazz.

“I am still very much doing afro soul, but now there has been an addition of jazz.”

Futshane said he was planning to rerelease his 2014 album.

“There will be new songs included in the rerelease. This will be my way of reintroducing myself to the people,” he said, adding that he would feature Bra Lex and the band in the new music.

Tomorrow night’s show will be an intimate night, with him and a piano player, Futshane said.

“I will be doing music from the album and also my own renditions of South African classics,” he said.

Tickets for the event cost R80. For bookings, contact (043) 721-3052, 083-277-0861.