Songstress who leaves her heart on stage
TONIGHT, Durban vocalist Nicky Shange and her band will perform at the Seaman’s Corner in Hammarsdale.
She and her band – Bernard Mndaweni on bass, Sanele Phakathi on keyboards and Sbu Zondi on drums – have been performing and honing their skills all around KwaZulu-Natal.
The songwriter studied music at what was then called Natal Technikon. In 1998, the legendary Busi Mhlongo saw Shange perform and asked her to be her backing vocalist.
“I’ve always loved and related to music. I look up to a wide range of artists, hence my complexity in terms of the way I write. It would not be accurate to compare me to the artists I love, who include Aretha Franklin, Busi Mhlongo, Brenda Fassie and Kelly Price, because I look up to them for different reasons,” she said.
In 2001, Shange moved to Johannesburg to join Joyous Celebration. Soon afterwards, she started doing backing vocals for Thandiswa Mazwai, Malaika, Jaziel Brothers and several other performers. As time went by, Shange was noticed by Jonas Gwangwa whom she worked and travelled with around the world. She also worked with Themba Mkhize and Sibongile Khumalo.
Shange moved back to Durban in 2015, where she is currently focusing on her solo career. She is now recording her live album and will debut two of her own songs tonight.
“Yes, I am working on my album. What’s left is for me and my band to lay them down at the studio. My music is very complex and diverse, so it’s not easy to channel me in one box because I tackle different genres,” she said.
Her music incorporates soulful sounds, African rhythms and jazz into one package and at C586 Dimba Road, Unit 3, Mpumalanga Township tonight at 7, she will take to the stage to perform songs by Chaka Khan, Sade and Lalah Hathaway.
“People will leave the venue wanting to hear more. I leave my heart on the stage every time I perform, they will be glad they came,” said Shange.
Tickets are R30 at the door.