The COMEBACK KID
South African singer, songwriter and recording artist, Chad Saaiman took a long hiatus from the music scene after a traumatic event in 2011. He has since made a stunning comeback as one of the hottest acts in the country, and is sucking the marrow out of every experience that comes his way.
Chad Saaiman is smooth. There is no doubt about that. And his humble, down-to-earth personality and delightful demeanour make him even more likeable. This talented musician – who was born in Portlands in Mitchell’s Plain outside Cape Town, and grew up in Crawford, Athlone – oozes charm when he takes to the stage. The emotional connection he has to the lyrics he writes mesmerises his audiences. A prolific songwriter, Saaiman has penned radio singles for some of South Africa’s biggest artists and his debut album, Chasing Melodies, received a SAMA nomination for Best English Pop Album in 2009.
In 2014, after a three-year hiatus from the music industry, he came back with a bang and released his second album, The Flight, which cemented his status as a well-respected, talented musician who continues to rise on the South African music scene. “Untouchable”, the most notable track off the album, was produced by two-time Grammy Award-winner Ron Feemster, who is renowned for his work with musical icons such as Mary J Blige and the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The last few years have also seen Chad gracing the pages of leading magazines and even making it onto Destiny Man’s list of the country’s most remarkable men under 40. Indwe recently caught up with Chad to find out a bit more about what makes him tick.