Publications
Zoë Modiga, the KwaZulu-Natal native who has been touring the world, is finally giving South Africa a taste of her magic.
The singer is set to headline the next edition of Bassline Live at the Lyric Theatre on April 30.
Modiga promises to celebrate guests for their resilience since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
The Umdali hitmaker has been pivotal in expanding South African alternative music. Armed with a musical background in jazz and classical music, Modiga created a deeply intuitive and well-thought sound that inspired music lovers throughout the late 2010s.
Her big break came when she won the Southern African Music Rights Organisation’s international scholarship for jazz in 2015. This catapulted her career, giving way for her to become a professional recording artist in 2017 after performing full time for a decade.
The singer’s debut album, Yellow: The Novel, was not only the artist’s first offering under her independent label called YelloeWax, but it also solidified her as a powerful force in the music industry.
Her sophomore album, Inganekwane in 2020, reached the top 10 on Apple Music SA Charts and peaked at number one on Apple Music SA World Charts. It also received a South African Music Award in 2021 for best engineered album.
READ: A sophomore offering that is perfectly Zoë
“My biggest inspiration is the human experience and the privilege of being able to reflect the times and our world. I’m inspired by my creator, people and our stories. I loved how music was the soundtrack to my life and I knew very early on that my world would revolve around it. I chose the music and the business simply came with it,” she told City Press.
Modiga’s energetic practice in jazz and classical music enabled her to resonate with a global audience.
“Being trained classically, in jazz and in the streets, I’ve learnt the discipline of honing my craft, respecting the learning process and allowing the music to lead my life. I’ve been able to use all the tools I’ve learnt along the way to create my own inspired legacy filled with messages that speak to my spirit and hopefully evoke thoughts, emotions and a sense of healing, lessons, affirmations and celebrating others,” she said.
This instalment at the Lyric Theatre is titled Ukubonga, which means to give thanks. Teasing us with the prospect of audiences hearing new material, Modiga said: “I won’t kiss and tell. I want audiences to wait and see.”
READ: The secret behind Brentwood’s longevity as the local brand turns 50
However, Modiga mentioned how she felt the audience might react to her Bassline Live show: “The show is called Ukubonga because it is a thanksgiving that we are ushering the music lovers into. So, imagine any family gathering where you are thankful for each other – that is the energy we wish to bring on stage.
This will be a performance-packed year for Modiga, who will be heading out to Rotterdam in the Netherlands for the North Sea Jazz Festival in July.
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