Travolta Salane

Travolta Salane is a rapper from South Africa.

Salane released his first EP Grown Man Jazz in 2014, and the lead single 'Every Day' debuted at number one on Madibaz Radio Station in Port Elizabeth.

He released Melanin Magic in 2017, attracting a rave revue by Level Infinity, who described the song as an “artefact with a timeless sound and lyrics that will take your mind on a trip!”

The highlight of Salane’s career was when he was invited to perform 'Ndzilo' at the 2019 Presidential Inauguration Concert, to an audience of 30000 at Loftus Stadium in the City of Tshwane. His music explores themes of religion, spirituality, life and death and everything in-between, in a sonic fusion of jazz, neo-soul and boom bap.

Salane was inspired to follow a musical career by his composer and conductor grandfather, Makuleke Hasane Julis Salane. Salane’s first performance was at age seven to an adoring audience of one – his granny. He began developing his musical skills in the recording studio of Dr Thomas Chauke in 2008. Salane’s sounds are soulful, jazzy, hip-hop, embracing his Xitsonga roots and weaving them through his lyrics. His versatility and love of innovative change helps him channel creative energy into all his songs and music, attracting both the conscious musician and music lover, provoking insight and deeper layers of what it means to be a creative African in a global village. Salane’s greatest inspirations are Jay Z and the Soulquarians, and he drew from their creativity to begin writing and composing his own material. He is currently collaborating with an up-and-coming band, composing new songs and planning a national tour. He’s also working on a community-related cultural project and creating a series of podcasts to equip aspiring young artists with useful techniques for their creative quest.