The new sounds of Toya Delazy

10 Nov 2016

After a stint of living and performing in the UK and recent African tour, Toya Delazy aka Latoya Buthelezi is back on home ground, bringing with her a new attitude and an edgier tone. Abandoning her Afro-pop roots, she now performs with a full band and finally feels she is presenting her authentic self and sound. We had a digital chit chat with her to find out more.

Tell us about your recent six country Africa tour. Did you a have a particularly favourite venue or city that you performed in?

Zanzibar was epic - playing looking into into the Indian ocean to an amazing diverse audience! It was really crazy travelling everywhere, but I loved it. We were welcomed so warmly in each country. If I had the opportunity to do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat. And I'd probably stay a little longer in Zanzibar, and add Lesotho, Swaziland, Ghana and Nigeria.

What was it like performing with UK band The Warriors? Is this a permanent partnership?

It's great, I feel so much better playing with absolutely no backtrack. So, yes I'm definitely not moving back! They understand my music, we have a very strong relationship, and they're like my brothers.

How would you describe your new sound and what has the response been to it?

It's a mix of jazz, electro, hip hop and punk, and the response in Africa has been incredibly positive. Some people called me daring for bringing such an unusual sound into Africa, and that's often said to be reserved for white audiences. It just shows that music is universal and you can't categorise it by colour.

What can fans expect at your show at Mercury?

Music, Jose Cuervo and beautiful people :)

How did touring and living in Europe change your approach to music?

I'm more open minded and free to try things out. Being unknown there allows me to go out without feeling watched. I can spend time in pubs or attend concerts and actually listen to the music, have a good time and get inspired.

In a recent Facebook post you said “I have become a victim of my own success in South Africa, and I'm done with all that noise.” What exactly do you mean by this?

I feel like I've been boxed! I started as a keyboardist playing with a beatboxer in Durban, got signed and released music that went viral. I've been played on all radio stations and TV shows, but it was almost too much at once! Now when I want to release new music, people expect the same old pop stuff, which can be frustrating. I've now chosen to stay true to myself, and create music that is more authentic for me.

What are your thoughts on our local music scene?

We have so much talent! It's unfortunate the radio stations mainly play the same types of tracks all the time, and the same genre. I love our local music and I only hope that it gets showcased more.