Loyiso “Luwi” Turwana works in a call centre, but when this 33-year-old from Langa is not answering the phone, he’s making a name for himself in the music business.
Now his recently released single, Stay With Me, is making a buzz online across the country.
Luwi started singing 10 years ago. He says he always knew he wanted to pursue music as a career, because it’s his passion… his first love. But he realised he needed to hone his skills first. Stay With Me is at number one on the Reverbnation charts in the Western Cape and number five, nationally.
That’s been a big confidence builder, he says, and it has encouraged him to keep making music.
But his late mother, who he calls his “pillar of strength” always urged him to also focus on his studies so he could have something to fall back on.
So after doing his matric in 2006, he enrolled for a media studies course, then worked at loveLife radio station before landing the job at the Old Mutual call centre.
He says the job gives him financial security while he works on his music part-time
He writes mostly pop songs about love and plans to release a 10-track album next year with a mix of pop and gqom.
This month, he will be performing at Rocktober Lifestyle 2018 at Maragana Park in Langa on Sunday October 7.
Cape Town artists, he says, battle to get exposure with promoters tending to favour Joburg musos.
Those Capetonians who don’t lose heart, he says, need to work really hard to show they don’t need to go to Joburg to make it.
Life experience and nature, he says, influence him in the songs he writes. The beat comes naturally, and it helps being able to play the piano.
He dreams of making his mark in the music business, both locally and abroad, and says he wants his songs to motivate young people to love each other more and hurt each other less.
“I want to inspire young people, I want to change the music game. Our music market is a dance market, and I’m bringing something new and fresh.
“My music seeks to heal broken hearts and bring joy,” he said.