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HAVING belted her way into the hearts of South Africans nationwide, Pietermaritzburg’s very own Rayleen Padayachee, who is now a Johannesburg resident, is fast becoming a coveted name in the music industry.
Since she sang the hit single If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys on The Voice South Africa, Padayachee has been the name on many lips of South Africans who can’t get enough of her powerful voice and the Maritzburg Fever sat down with her to find out just exactly who the songbird is.
“I have been singing from the time I was five and growing up in a church, naturally I began singing for the worship team and from there learned various instruments such as the guitar, drum and bass,” said Padayachee.
The soul and R&B singer says that music is in her blood given that everyone in her family plays an instrument or sings, with her brother, Joash Mark Padayachee, having written her very first song, titled Know You’re Greater.
Padayachee said that she entered the competition after her vocal coach informed her about it and because it was her father’s dream.
“I am usually not nervous being a performer but once I was on that stage I felt the nerves with the lights and camera, which made it a bit more intense,” said Padayachee, who once she began to sing didn’t look nervous at all.
On her decision to choose Lira as her mentor, Padayachee said that Lira’s soulful genre and powerful stage presence were some of the characteristics that attracted her and influenced her in her decision to chose her.
Taking inspiration from various artists, Padayachee acknowledges Israel Houghton, Cece Winans and Travis Greene from the gospel side of music while also being influenced by the late Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys to name a few artists.
“Personally, I draw inspiration from my father and now my brother, Joash, who has helped me pursue my music career,” she said.
Padayachee said she hopes to gain as much exposure and experience as possible through this competition and will be in town on May 4 when she will be performing at Club Woodlander from 7 pm.
