Yashna just wants to keep rising up
DURBAN singing sensation Yashna may not have made it past the first round of reality singing competitions, but she has made the top 30 on local radio stations.
Yashna Lutchman, 26, of
Malvern, stopped auditioning for competitions to focus on building “Yashna” as a brand and artist.
She said her latest release was her favourite thus far.
“It’s my first single as an indie artist to receive high rotation on one of the biggest radio stations in Durban, East Coast Radio. It was a single created from a real experience, in an attempt to heal my own hurt, so to receive such a positive response for singing my truth is an extremely satisfying feeling.”
She said hearing herself on radio felt surreal.
“My heart always skips a beat when I realise it’s me. I never get used to the feeling, and it blows my mind when I sit and reflect on my younger days when the dream was to hear myself on radio and see myself on TV.
“But God has been doing the most. And I’m just grateful for my journey, it hasn’t been easy but it’s been worth it,” she said.
Yashna said she submitted in the hope it would get playlisted.
“It was written from a real and vulnerable experience and I guess the raw emotion translates when people hear it. It was inspired by the loss of my African grey parrot Tyler, who was more than just a pet, more of a family member. I wrote it in an attempt to uplift my spirit at a time when I was overwhelmed with emotion, but had to face life and the responsibilities that come with it.”
She said her vision for this year was to produce more singles and music videos.
Yashna started singing at the age of 10. In 2009, in Grade 10, she joined the school choir and took part in musicals. She is now part of the praise and worship team at Grace Family Church.
“I somehow always knew this was my calling, there was a constant press on my heart for it, and it was in 2012 when I fully accepted that music held my purpose,” she said. Yashna has released two albums,
and
For her first single titled she bought the beat online. “Listening to it now is a clear indication of my growth as an artist and of how far I’ve come vocally, and as a brand. I work with some of the most talented music producers and sound engineers in the Durban music scene – Neo Ndawo, Skorch Supernova, Teabag, Audio Simz, Jabulani Cindi and Jaedon Daniel to name a few – so I am proud of the outcome. Being an independent artist isn’t the easiest option but it provides me with freedom and flexibility in my craft.
“I love drawing from real life experiences. There have been some songs written for me and I have handled, so I’m not against being written for. It’s an enjoyable experience being able to bring someone else’s vision to life in a way that exceeds expectations.
“The more I spend time in the studio, the more I realise co-writing is important for growth in content and development as an artist.”
Yashna’s music is available to stream and download on all digital platforms.