The Australian music scene is no stranger to Thndo (fka Thando).
The widely loved Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ has commanded massive
crowds at festivals such as Bluesfest, WOMAdelaide, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Groovin
the Moo, BigSound, Jungle Love, Woodford Folk Festival and more. Her sold out shows at
Chapel Off Chapel have stunned audiences to a point of standing ovation; rave reviews
following in their wake. Every performance is a statement – a triumph of powerful lyricism,
rich-ranged vocals and smooth backing instrumentation – turning onward the wheel of live
music, show by show.
With the release of her latest EP Life in Colour (2021), the wheel is about to turn again.
This second EP marks both a new chapter of immersive song writing, with high demand
shows following. Life in Colour touches on thndo’s experiences of growing up black in
Australia. Struggles with displacement, discrimination and a deeper understanding of black
pride are interwoven with R&B, Hip Hop and Afrobeat’s elements to continue the narrative of
her smash hit single Numb.
“That’s where I first explored what it feels like to force myself to assimilate,” says thndo. “The
consequence of being a palatable black person accepted by white Australia is losing every
part of what made me special. This EP was an attempt to get that back. learning from others
like me and learning how to be proud to be different.”
With a statement as bold as her stage presence, Life in Colour is certain to continue thndo’s
trend of packing venues to the brim. Any die-hard music fan can resonate with her talent for
song structure, dragging in elements of TLC, Queen, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and more
to keep crowds fixated beyond the encore. With collaborations with crowd favourites such as
Sampa the Great and Remi drawing positive reviews from Triple J’s Unearthed, and a long
streak of successful releases, thndo’s Life in Colour marks the start of a new wave of
conscientious Soul and R&B in the Australian sphere. Book now for the show of a lifetime.
“Her persona on stage was radiating with soul and richness”- Isaac Liew, AU
Review
“Winning plenty of fans with her captivating live performances”- Simon Clark, AU
Review
“Sikwila is not just a prodigy of the jazz and soul styles, she is the embodiment of the
genres’ most prolific spirits” -Joe Dolan, The Music