Nakhane

Nakhane (born on 3 February 1988) is a singer and songwriter from Eastern Cape, South Africa.

He grew up in Port Elizabeth before relocating to Johannesburg at the age of 15. While his friends listened to Top 40 pop songs on the radio, he spent his time discovering and loving the music that his parents listened to.

These include Marvin Gaye, The O'Jays, Paul Simon and choral music. He often sang in choirs his family were members of, intensifying his love for harmony and later vocal multi-tracking.

It wasn't until the age of 19 that he took up the guitar after hearing Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' . He had previously played the trombone and steel drums in school bands and orchestras, after losing patience with the piano, which he would later play (albeit in a rudimental fashion). It was also at this point in his life that he began to appreciate folk music and rock bands.

While not losing his love for 60s and 70s soul music, his love for guitar music and 70’s avant-garde fusion jazz grew. But on top of those international bands was the appreciation for African musicians.

His debut album 'Brave Confusion' put Nakhane as a front-runner at the 2014 SAMA awards, eventually earning him the Best Alternative Act, but missing out in other categories he was nominated. Nakhane is also notable for being one of South Africa's few openly gay pop stars.

He released his sophomore album 'You Will Not Die' in 2018.