Toya Delazy

Born in eMahlabathini near Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal, singer and pianist Latoya Buthelezi has risen to heights nothing short of remarkable. Reflecting her youthful, street-smart style, her music is innovative and adventurous. ‘Pump It On’, the first single from her debut album Due Drop Deluxe, rocked the local music industry, garnering more than 68000 hits on YouTube and forcing her to be thrust straight into the limelight. Her second single ‘Love is in the Air’ is one of the highest ranked songs on radio charts nationwide, with the video going straight into consistent high rotation on Channel O.

She cites her breakthrough moment as her solo performance at the 2011 Africa Concert, filmed live in Johannesburg and broadcast across Africa. This performance saw her share the same stage with stars such as Baba Maal, Habib Koite, The Mahotella Queens and Tumi & The Volume. In 2012 she was nominated in the Video of the Year category at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards. At the 2013 Samas she took home Newcomer of the Year and Best Pop Album, while her producer Jax Panik won Best Producer. That year she was also nominated for a BET Award for Best International Act: Africa.