Lusanda Ngcobo didn’t set out to be a singer. In fact, for most of her life, the 24-year-old artist, who goes by the mononym Lusanda, thought her future was in dance. Born in Durban and raised in Johannesburg, her earliest memories are filled with music and movement. She grew up dancing (a classically trained ballerina since age five), playing marimbas, and singing in choirs before eventually enrolling in choreography studies at the University of Cape Town. Music was always in the background, but it wasn’t until she started posting TikTok covers that her voice found its way to the forefront. Lusanda first caught the internet’s attention through a string of TikTok covers that showcased her soothing vocals and knack for blending R&B stylings into pop, rap and Amapiano songs. In 2023, one spontaneous upload in particular - a rendition of Outkast’s modern classic “Hey Ya” - set the wheels in motion for a new chapter in her life. The video garnered millions of views in a matter of weeks. Offers started pouring in from music producers including one to collaborate on a track, “Echoes”, with rising R&B singer/songwriter Manana and Amapiano it girl Uncle Waffles. By January this year, Lusanda found herself in the studio recording, honing her voice and learning the art of songwriting. “I’ve spent the last year really figuring out how I wanted my music to feel – focusing on my pen, finding my sound, and working with incredible people who push me creatively,” she says.