S

OUTH African singer Simphiwe Dana brings a spirituality to her music, her rich earthy voice sliding under the skin and into the soul.

Dana is a much sought after, award-winning performer. She has numerous South African Music Awards to her credit, including the award for Best Female Vocalist (2007) and Album of the Year (2007).

Growing up in Transkei, Dana's earliest musical influence was from the soul sounds in her mother's songs.

During long walks to fetch water Dana began singing traditional songs. She was drawn by the songs of the local church choir and also listened on the radio to local artists like Amampondo and Madosini.

Dana also names jazz legends Lena Horne, Sarah Vaughan and South Africa's Dorothy Masuka as musical influences.

After completing school, she studied graphic design and information technology. On the Gallo Music South Africa website Dana says, "from my music you can tell I'm a graphic designer".

After moving to Johannesburg, the hub of the local music industry, her performances at open-mike sessions around town came to the attention of producers, resulting in the recording of her first album, Zandisile (2004).

Zandisile is a rich blend of contemporary jazz and traditional African sounds, R&B and pop. Her lyrics are about the significance of tradition, yet also about the struggle for self-confidence and freedom.

Her second album, The One Love Movement On Bantu Biko Street (2006), is very much a reflection of the essence of Biko's philosophy: about finding yourself, accepting yourself so you can change yourself – of loving and respecting yourself.