Musician

Forged in the smoke-sheathed press of Durban’s grungy back-alley bars, Toya Delazy is a classically trained musician who has clearly earned her stripes in the South African music industry. Her first single, Pump it On, went viral in 2011 with over 200 000 views, and since then Delazy’s career has gone supernova with singles Pump it On and Love is in the Air reaching 5FM’s Top 40 and receiving high rotation on Channel O, MTV Base and local radio stations. In 2012 the 23-year-old singer, composer and pianist released her debut album, Due Drop, an innovative fusion of jazz, electro and RNB that received widespread praise and won Delazy three Samas including Newcomer of the Year and Best Pop Album. She is currently working on her second album. “It means a lot to feel so much love from the country and continent,” she says.

— Billy Rivers

Twitter: @ToyaDelazy Website: toyadelazy.com