She’s not merely a singer and songwriter but also a multi-instrumentalist, composer, social advocate, and humanitarian. She has won numerous awards, including Best Pop Album at the 2013 South African Music Awards, and was nominated by BET, NYC Out, and MTV EMA. Oh, she’s just 27 years old.

Born in the town of eMahlabathini in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, Delazy now calls London home. There she has transformed herself, moving way from her pop, gospel, and classical origins to what some people like to call “mixtape” because her new sound doesn’t fit any specific genre. Her latest single, “Diamonds In The Rough”, for instance, blends R&B, hip-hop, classical music, ambient, and soul into one intoxicating concoction. The melody is sultry yet groovy, cool yet steamy. Delazy’s wordplay is smart but delivered at a steady pace to allow her fantastic songwriting to come through.

As you might expect from a gifted artist and activist, she’s written a song for people who are struggling to make ends meet and find their way in this convoluted world. But instead of criticizing everyone and everything for her situation, she finds strength in the struggle and within the people who share her plight. It’s a beautifully moving song, and one of those rare gems that have you quietly saying, “Wow.”

The Revue, CA - 2017