Thndo
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 under her belt, 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.
Hear thndo join us in the studio on The Music Weekly:
