Bay singer launches new solo career
Nelson Mandela Bay singer Lisa Yengeni, 29, will launch her solo career with Life in Music, a concert showcasing her jazz, afro and soul music compositions, next weekend at the Little Theatre in Central.
Formerly a member of Legato and the Eastern Cape Children’s Choir, Yengeni had won a number of awards in singing competitions while growing up.
However, her most treasured memory was being chosen for the children’s choir and touring the Netherlands and Belgium and with them in 2000.
“I was excited to go overseas and I knew then that I loved music and wanted to pursue it.
“My parents encouraged me to sing.
“Being talented singers themselves, my mom, Patience Yengeni, an a capella singer, and my dad, Andile Yengeni, a lover of choral music, both knew it was inevitable I would become a singer myself.
“In 2002, I joined Vocal Blend, a gospel a capella sestet that groomed me vocally and gave me a wider knowledge of a capella music.
“I was with the group for 15 years and we had released two albums when I left to join prominent a capella group Legato in 2015.
“Being part of Legato allowed me many exciting opportunities to share a stage with musical legends, such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the PE Opera house in 2016.”
As part of the group, she also performed alongside Thandiswa Mazwai, Vusi Nova and Don Laka, and appeared at events such as the Ebubeleni Music Festival and the National Arts Festival.
Yengeni said she left Legato in 2016 to grow personally.
“I wanted to launch myself as a solo artist and knew I had to venture out at some point.
“The whole experience inspired the name of my first solo concert, Life in Music, which is meant to take audiences on my personal musical journey.
“This is my first solo concert as all my life I have always been part of a group.
“The music I will perform on the night was written by myself over many years and I am excited to finally get the chance to perform my own compositions,” Yengeni said.
Life In Music will feature fellow Bay musicians Vocal Blend, Siyasanga Koyo and Sima Saxman Kolele.
The concert is on Saturday, June 30 at the Athenaeum Little Theatre at 6.30pm.
Tickets are R100 for adults, R70 for children aged six to 11 and free for those under five.
For bookings go to “Lisa Yengeni Life in Music” or “Unathi Creations” on Facebook.