Loyiso Bala : A Quintessential R&B Artiste from the Rainbow Nation

             In all my experiences, there have been very few musicians whose talents embody all what a true musician should be like. At a time when the music scene is littered with too much borrowing, artistes resorting to auto tuning and eyebrows raising, there is one artiste whose musical style and depth sets him apart from the multitude of artistes the world over. Loyiso Bala is that one musician. Throughout his career, Loyiso's creative impulses have been inspired by a deeply-held spiritual commitment to improving the world through his music and actions. While many musicians fit easily into a single category, Loyiso's unique musical vision remains unclassifiable. 

Born and raised in Uitenhage, in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, Loyiso comes from a musically rich background. His maternal grandfather was a well known composer in his time and his parents met in choir. Those sounds and the music of the church (Loyiso began singing in the choir at age 3 as a curtain raiser) shaped and developed his love of multiple music styles. He trained at the prestigious Drakensburg Boys Choir in South Africa where he nurtured his voice like his sibling Kwai before him. At age 7, he first recorded "Mama come back" with Sizwe Zakho, Rebecca Malope's producer.  In 2000, Loyiso then 19 years old, was appointed conductor of the National Youth Choir, the youngest person ever in that position.

In 1996, Loyiso’s brother, Kwai together with a couple of his friends formed what will be one of the most successful groups in South Africa called TKZee. This Kwaito group would provide a platform for Loyiso to kick start his career when he featured on a couple of TKZee’s hit songs. In 2000, Loyiso recorded "Girl without a name" for the TKZee family album (TKZee was later renamed “TKZee family”) which won the group a number of awards. After much success with the group, Loyiso decided to go solo, culminating in the release of his own singles “Musukukhala” and “Silky Soft Skin” in 2001. He followed up those hit singles with two full length albums in 2002 and 2004 “Wine Women and Song” and “Amplified”, establishing him as the best R&B artiste in South Africa. During this period, Loysio enrolled and completed a music degree from the University of Pretoria, a long held dream of his to add a professional touch to his music.

Loyiso, a multi-award winner, has performed in over 16 countries and has legions of fans the world over. He sings in his native Xhosa and in English. Loyiso counts Prince, Michael Jackson and Bach as his major influences. It is certainly worth noting that between October-November 2008, Loyiso achieved a feat  no South African  artiste has ever attempted,  by having singles from his current album ‘I want you’, ‘Blow Your Mind’, ‘Take Me Back’ and ‘Dali Wami’ and ‘Maybe’ simultaneously on rotation on  the top 100 radio charts in South Africa. Call it luck or karma, but this writer believes that the event was a result of his relentless drive and hard work to get his style of music heard the world over. Pure dedication to his craft and it will only get better!!

   In May 2010, Loyiso released a new single ‘Wrong For You’, a song written by singer Robin Thicke and Sean Hurley which has enjoyed considerable success on radio stations. There are plans to release a full length album in October 2010 which will feature production work by noted American and South African producers. My early take on this forthcoming album is that it is a well-written diary, set to amazingly lush production and vocal arrangement.  This is certainly nice R&B. So light up the dinner candle and enjoy the refreshing sounds of an artiste who will remind you of your first love!!

        Recently, Loyiso granted me a telephone interview from his base in Bryanston, South Africa. This interview covered an array of topics and subjects. Below is the full text of the interview.

How has your family and upbringing shaped your singing career?

Since I started singing at such a young age and attended music school thereafter, it has taught me how to discipline myself whilst striving to become the best at what I do. And that has carried over into all areas of my life.

What has been your most memorable experience as a musician to date?

I would sincerely have to say it was performing at this years’ FIFA World Cup Kick-off celebration, right here in South Africa. Second to that would be performing at the 46664 Nelson Mandela’s 90^th birthday dinner and concert in Hyde Park, London in 2008.

How does your songwriting process work?

I usually start off with a melodic idea, and then I’d figure out the accompanying chords on my piano, write the verse and chorus lyrics and then take it to studio to finish the writing and production process.

What is the importance to you of having meaning or stories behind all of the songs you write?

I feel it is very important to have a story or meaning behind a song, even if it is not a personal one, so that people can relate to it on various levels.

How difficult has is it been trying to sell R&B or your style of music in South Africa?

When I started out, R&B was synonymous with American artists, so at first the South African audience didn’t take to a South African doing R&B easily. I think they felt that I wasn’t being myself. It took a few years for my music to win them over to my unique style of R&B and that is when the awards and platinum sales started. My style of music started out as pure R&B, however it has evolved to what is now classified as “Urban”, a fusion of contemporary R&B, soft rock and urban-styled pop.

You are one musician I know who has made it a goal to try to have your music reach a diverse audience beyond the borders of South Africa. In trying to do this, you have worked in the past with the Bala Brothers, including the gospel project and being a celebrity judge at the 2010 MNET Idols. Have those efforts helped, and is it fair to ask if your fans should expect another gospel album in the future?

Yes, some of them have definitely helped in one way or the other. Case in point, on a trip with my brothers Zwai and Phelo (Bala Brothers) to the UK in August 2010, we received several positive reviews by independent media. I believe that there has been even more interest to perform abroad from the beginning of 2011. In terms of MNet’s South African Idols, it was certainly fun but I don’t think it will get me Simon Cowell’s job (laughing). And yes, my fans can look forward to a gospel album in the near future, though I can’t say exactly when as I will be releasing my 4^th urban album, titled ‘FULL CIRCLE’ at the end of October 2010.

You have been known for your work in a number of social causes. You are currently involved with the charity event My 94.7 Cycle Challenge (MaAfrika Tikkun). How did that get started and what are you hoping to get out of that?

MaAfrika Tikkun is an NGO that has been around for quite some time already and have done amazing work in local communities here. So I am going to ride 94.7 kilometers to help raise funds for the great work they do. In fact I would like to please ask that everyone reading this helps me in reaching my goal by simply logging on to: www.backabuddy.co.za/beasport/project/loyisos-947-cycle-challenge   

In  a 2008 interview with 46664.com, you stated that with “all your success and accomplishments  over the years, this is no  doubt the greatest honor that  you have  received  was to be a part of such a prestigious event alongside the world’s most inspirational man, Nelson Mandela”. Could you tell the readers how you came to be selected as an ambassador for the 46664 campaign and the feeling performing live before a world audience at Hyde Park?

I was invited by the chairman of 46664 to an orphanage in 2007 (if I remember correctly) and a few days later I was called into a meeting to discuss me becoming an ambassador for the brand because of the way I apparently conducted myself during the visit a few days earlier. Performing before an audience of, what I believe was in the region of 50,000, was electrifying! I don’t think I can find the right words to describe it actually. But it was certainly an honor!

You have an album that is set to drop sometime in October of this year. What should your fans and music lovers in general expect with this album?

As I previously mentioned, my 4^th album is titled ‘FULL CIRCLE’ as I believe that as a musician, after 10yrs, I’ve come full circle. People can expect variety; it’s does not reflect a specific genre of music. It can best be explained this way, “it is a singer-songwriter album that is sure to keep you entertained”. 

What has been the response of the American market to your music thus far? Are there any plans to sign up with any US record label and any immediate plans to tour the US?

I recorded some of the songs off my new album in the States and hopefully once the album is out I can find a market for them there, too. 

Are there any international musicians you would love to collaborate with?

Yes!!! Please try Pink, Beyonce or Keri Hilson for me!!

What’s the one thing you most want people to know about you and your music?

It’s hard to say because I think my music speaks for itself.

How can people check out your music?

You can find my music on ITunes, Amazon.com, ReverbNation, and at my website www.loyisomusic.com

What are your immediate music career goals?

In the next year and a half I hope to have gained more success through the release of FULL CIRCLE, to have recorded a gospel album and have toured more with the Bala Brothers internationally.

I think I am  going to wrap it up now. It has been an honor and pleasure to talk to you and to get your music out to our readership. I think our readers are going to be absolutely thrilled to hear your music and look forward to more great works in the coming years. Thanks!

The Afrikan Child © Copyright 2010. All Rights reserved. No part of these pages, either text or image may be duplicated without the author's permission. Also, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise is strictly prohibited without prior written permission. General inquiries should be directed to our Web feedback box, accessible from this link or from the footer at the bottom of most pages on our site.