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Aged 10 In Turkey With my nephew Jean & brother With James - my husband with Leon Geordie
SOUTH AFRICA AND THE EARLY DAYS I was born into a very musical family of many generations. My mother - Lisa - is a jazz singer and worked as a promoter and publisher for Leeds Music in South Africa at a young age. My father - Robin - is a composer and producer of African & World music as well as music for film & television. My grandparents on my mothers' side both played the piano and my grandfather was fabulous on the clarinet. I always remember having music around me when I was a child and growing up and this is one of the reasons that music is such an integral part of my life to this day.
LIFE AND A TASTE OF FAME IN SOUTH AFRICA The first 7 years of my life, I spent in Johannesburg. My parents parted ways when I was 4 years old. When my mom met Leon - my stepfather, they decided to move us to a fishing village called Kalk Bay in Cape Town - I am extremely grateful for this, as there was so much adventure to have as a kid living by the beach. Having a very active childhood in dance and music, I was fortunate enough to get a part in a South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) television production giving “Tribute to the 80’s” and following that, acquired the lead role as singer/dancer in a Broadway-type production with Sun International. This allowed me to make a name for myself in South Africa at a very tender age. After two productions, I decided to pursue my career as a songwriter and performer on piano, and left my new acclaimed fame behind me.
MY JOURNEY ACROSS THE OCEAN I left Cape Town in the winter and arrived in England in the summer with £5 and a world of excitement in my pocket. With a year’s open-air ticket and plans to travel and further my studies in dance, I met with many challenges, which were not on my original agenda at all. Not having a piano to hand, I took to learning the guitar. After many shattered expectations and an expired return ticket home, a couple of my friends urged me to start busking. This opened the first door to my gigging life in the Thames Valley area of the UK. The landlord of a local pub in Eton heard me singing on Eton Bridge and offered me a regular gig at his pub. This gave me a platform to approach other similar venues and start building a regular fan base. Since then I have performed at various pubs, clubs and music venues all over the UK as well as Amsterdam, California, Turkey and back in my hometown in South Africa.
MAKING MUSIC I released my debut solo album, “between these walls” in June 2001 and toured the UK with this album, solo and with my band. This tour included venues such as The Kings Head – Fulham; The Halfmoon – Putney; Break for the Border – Oxford Circus and many more. This album sold just over 2500 copies at gigs alone. Read REVIEW
In December 2001, I won the BBC Song of the Year Contest with “Maybe This Time” from “between these walls”. This won me a 3-day recording session at Running Frog Studio in Windsor, which led to the completion of my second album - “sweetest dream”. I launched “sweetest dream” at the Windsor Arts Centre in July 2004. I financed both “between these walls" & “sweetest dream” and released them through my own label, Kano Music.Near the end of 2004 I signed to an independent label. This deal led to me recording my 3rd album “GINNI” at London's Westside Studios in collaboration with producer James Hallawell. The “GINNI” album was released on March 20th 2006 following my single “Jump the Sky” . “Jump the Sky”' also appeared on the “British at Midem” sampler cd, alongside music from artists such as Nizlope, Goldie Lookin Chain and the Delays. The 2 year deal came to an end in October 2006. I have been resting for the most part of 2007. Still writing and with a vast catalogue of songs in my pocket, I am looking forward to releasing many more albums. Watch this space in 2008.
SETTLING IN TO MY ADOPTED HOME I have fallen in love with the magic of England. My adopted hometown is Windsor, where there is a wonderful café bar culture and live music is devotedly supported by the locals and tourists alike. I am also very fortunate to have a really great bunch of friends, not to mention my fans in the UK and all over the world who are so loyal - some of whom have become really good friends. I am very grateful to you all. I know that one day, I may return to Cape Town with my husband - but for now - I am happy where I am.
MORE REVEIWS: between these walls Album Launch Review Unplugged & Intimate - 13th March 2001
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