SIYA CHARLES
Profile: Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner
By Sinesipho Habana and Ntombekhaya Busuku
Love, kindness, and humility were evident at the same time when jazz musician Siyasanga ‘Siya’ Charles greeted us. “How are you?” she asked, clearly happy to see people who reminded her of her home (South Africa) and her home language (isiXhosa).
Even though Charles is making her name overseas, that doesn’t stop her from remembering her origins. “Ndikhumbula kakhulu especially ukutya, ububele, and uthetha isizulu sam esaphukileyo xa ndise Joburg,” she told Grocott’s Mail (I miss home a lot, especially the food, the hospitality, and speaking my broken Zulu when I am in Joburg).
This trombonist, composer, and bandleader is making waves in the jazz scene with her unique sound. While incorporating modern elements, she stays true to her traditional roots by passionately blending traditional sounds with modern styles in her music. This fusion creates a fresh and exciting sound that’s both contemporary and culturally rich. “I’m very inspired by isingqi sasekhaya (our traditional African rhythms), so some of my music uses those African rhythms with the jazz harmony, and colourful tone. That’s basically me trying to marry these two influences that I really love and am inspired by,” she said.
Charles believes it is her religious belief that made this music what it is today. “It’s my late mother who inspired me to connect with my faith – actually, it was through connecting with my faith that I was actually able to hear these melodies that God would send to me in the middle of my dead sleep,” she said.
Winning the Standard Bank Young Artist Award is a game-changer for Siya’s career, boosting her into the spotlight in both the United States and South Africa. “Standard Bank gives young artists that push to put themselves out there, to really represent themselves as artists,” she says. Now, performing at the National Arts Festival will mark another milestone, highlighting her growing success and artistic reach through exciting collaborations that shine on the big stage.
This award-winning momentum has opened doors to new opportunities, strengthening her position as a rising star in the music industry. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry didn’t stop her from doing what she loves. “Growing up, I always hung with the guys, hence I chose to play the trombone. I didn’t want to play with the girls. I think that, in a way, it shaped my personality to become comfortable in an industry that is predominantly male. At times, it can have a patriarchal influence in how certain musicians approach the jazz space, but, in my upbringing, I had a bunch of male friends who prepared me for a male-dominated space,” she said.
Siya Charles is more than just a talented musician – she’s a beacon of hope and positivity, using her gifts to uplift and inspire young, upcoming female jazz artists. Her music enriches us all, a reminder of the beauty and kindness that surrounds us. “I will let our fellow South Africans know that it’s not about where you come from, how privileged you are, even if you grew up in the townships or villages. There is space for you in the world. If you have a dream, you can be audacious enough to believe in yourself or reach out for help,” she said.
This is the second of our profiles of this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award-winners. We are introducing six of them to you as part of our build-up to the 51st National Arts Festival.
