- Viwo Kulati asserts herself firmly in the music industry.
- Viwo Kulati boldly claims her space in music scene
Viwo Kulati, a soulful singer, has modelled her talents after those of her idol, American singer Lalah Hathaway. She is renowned for her strong, crystal-clear voice and poised stage appearance.
The 26-year-old soulful vocalist, whose real name is Viwolwethu Kulati, is quickly making a name for herself in South Africa’s jazz scene. She has performed onstage alongside artists such as the renowned singer-songwriter Thandiswa Mazwai, the queen of neo-soul Zonke Dikana, the rock band Blk Jks, and the performance art collective The Brother Moves On.
“I’ve always looked up to Lalah Hathaway– I love the way she puts emotion to songs and her delivery on some of her notes when she sings is immaculate. Her singing is so effortless, something I admire and hope to execute well one day,” the jazz enthusiast said.
“Lalah is such a raw talent. Her tone makes her unique and sets her apart from other musicians. I love how flexible she is in tackling other genres. From watching her performances, I’ve learnt that I shouldn’t be afraid to dig deep within myself and become as vulnerable as possible with my voice. I’ve also learnt not to be afraid of tacking low-range notes.”
She was exposed to the yearly National Arts Festival at a young age, which helped her develop a love of music and an appreciation for the arts. Viwo Kulati is from the Eastern Cape town of Makhanda.
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Her father, who exposed her to a variety of musical genres, was another factor in fostering her love in music.
“I grew up in a household where you’d hear a lot of reggae songs. My father would play Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer,” she recalls.
“Having been exposed to such music at a very young age has shaped my outlook and perception of music as a singer. I’ve learnt to appreciate other genres and not only jazz… that’s why I have a deep appreciation for R&B and Afro-soul.”
Though due to her early exposure to music, Kulati became more involved in school musical activities and went on to study music and classical voice at Victoria Girls’ High School. She is now finishing her jazz vocalist degree at Wits.
Kulati recently discovered her voice through her new album, Love, which is centred on the Bible verse “1 Corinthians 13” and communicates her thoughts on how people need love. As she continues to balance a burgeoning music career and education, Kulati recently found her voice.
In front of a small crowd in Braamfontein, Kulati recently gave a live performance of her newest work, which she described as the year’s high point.
“I have always wanted to find my voice and thanks to my producer Wilson Okafor, who pushed me to find myself as a singer, I managed to touch on the fact that we are nothing without love. Love is beautiful, especially if you share it with yourself or other people,” the singer expresses.
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