South African singer/songwriter Lusanda has been named Spotify’s EQUAL Africa Ambassador of the Month, an honour that arrives alongside the release of her new single “Lunchbox,” out this Friday, September 11. “Lunchbox” closes out “By The Time I Wake Up”, a three-track body of work, opening with “Progress” and continuing with the new fan-favorite title track.
“I want people to feel something when they hear my voice,” says Lusanda. “I write from things I’ve actually been through, and if my music helps someone feel a little less alone, or helps them heal from something that’s the whole point for me.”
The EQUAL Ambassador of the Month recognition carries particular significance for Lusanda, whose relationship with the programme dates back to some of the most pivotal moments in her young career. EQUAL support was instrumental in her first major headline show in Johannesburg and in the recording of her Spotify Singles session.
“EQUAL is the reason I got to play my first major show here in Johannesburg,” Lusanda shares. “Being part of a programme that actually puts its resources behind women artists has meant everything.”
Lusanda’s rise has been marked by a string of milestone collaborations, including “By The Time I Wake Up” – written together with producer Anoop D’Souza (Tems, Summer Walker, Syd, Asake) in South Africa after connecting in Ghana – as well as recent and upcoming features alongside Nasty C & Tellaman, Clxrity, and Dwson.
Fans can catch Lusanda at an intimate Track by Track listening session at &Friends/Mamakashaka in Braamfontein on September 17, where she’ll take the audience through the full maxi in her own words with special added surprises along the way.
We sat down with Lusanda to learn more about music:
- What is one surprising thing your fans might not know about you?
Only a handful of day ones know this, but I once took part in Idols SA. Crazy, right! I’ve always wanted this. Obviously, it’s a lifetime ago. It was a time, and a story I’ll unpack on another day 🙂
- When did you realise music was your destiny, and what is your WHY?
It has never felt like a single moment. Music was always all around me at home. We sang all the time, and I did every type of choir every year in high school. I think doing covers on TikTok is what nudged me towards this as an actual career, because it came so naturally that it felt undeniable. My why is simple: I write from real experience, and I want people to feel less alone because of it. If one of my songs helps someone through something, especially something they’ve never been able to articulate, that’s the whole reason I do this.
- Which African artists did you grow up listening to?
Moneoa, Joyous Celebration, Bucie, Lira, Shekhinah, Thandiswa Mazwai, Simphiwe Dana, Freshlyground and Amanda Black.
- How would you describe your sound to someone hearing it for the first time?
Earnest, piercing, melodic. There’s a lot of affirmation, a lot of honesty about love and ambiguity and being in one’s own head and clarity. There’s quite a bit of yearning too. I love love in every sense. It’s soulful and it’s meant to feel like healing, even when the subject matter is heavy.
- What advice would you give to someone afraid to follow their dreams?
I said it best in my song Progress: “Growing a garden starts with a seed.” The insecurity doesn’t actually go away when you’re “ready”. And that just means you care about the result. That’s a good thing. You have to master that feeling. Start before you feel ready. The skill catches up and the rest becomes history if you keep going.
- How do you navigate the music space as a woman, and how does that shape your artistry?
I would choose being a woman in every lifetime. As an artist or otherwise. From the way we lead, the friendships we have, our intuition, and how we protect what we love. It’s the only perspective I know and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Check out Lusanda on the EQUAL Africa playlist.