Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Talent from Atlantis hits local music scene hard
YOUNG songstress Talitha Luiters, from Atlantis is making a name for herself on the local music scene.
The talented 12-year-old has been seen performing at some major events around the Western Cape in recent weeks.
In May, she performed at the DA’s Worker’s Day celebrations at the Blue Downs Stadium, and party members were so impressed, they booked Luiters to sing the national anthem outside Parliament at the no confidence vote in President Jacob Zuma earlier this week.
The Saxonsea Primary School Grade 6 learner has been singing since the age of three.
“My friends are very proud of me. And they are always asking: ‘ Where did you sing Talitha? And when are you going to sing because we want to come and see ( you perform)’,” she said.
Luiters was nine when she caught the attention of a local music producer while performing in her primary school choir.
Producer Laurenzo Davids – the brother of former Idols SA winner, Sasha-Lee Davids – took her under his wing, and after two years of vocal training, Luiters entered a live singing competition on youth tv programme, Hectic Nine 9, and won.
Since then, the songbird’s stardom has been on the rise. Luiters has performed to big crowds at festivals like the Suidoosterfees.
She was one of the lead singers with former Idols winner Karin Kortje, along with Karin Hougard and Coenie de Villiers.
Luiters also dazzled audiences at the recent Snoek en Patat fees outside Piketberg; starred at the Cape Town heritage festival and the Diva’s Unite concert at GrandWest Casino. She also performed on the Expresso breakfast television show.
“My dream is to sing on the One Gospel TV channel,” Luiters said.
It should come as no surprise then that her favourite artist is acclaimed gospel singer, Kirk Franklin.
Luiters said she would love to show off her singing ability on The Voice talent show, but had no ambitions to sing on popular talent competition, Idols.
“The judges, most of the time pick the wrong people. I like them, but they make wrong decisions,” she said.