meet the joburg finalists: sio

On November 30th and December 1st, eight acts will perform at the AFROPUNK Joburg Battle of the Bands Finals.

The Grand Prize at the Battle of the Bands is the once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the star-studded, line-up of AFROPUNK JoBurg 2018 at Constitution Hill on New Year’s Eve. But the Battle of the Bands is not only an opportunity for a big break most musicians seek in their careers, it is also an occasion for South African artists to showcase their music, their creative spirit and their artistry to the AFROPUNK audience. So this week, we’re spotlighting all eight finalists, asking them questions about who they are and what this moment means to them.

Up today is Sio, who calls herself a “storyteller,” a “vampire,” and writes exquisite songs using electronic instruments.

What is you name, your age, and the instrument that you play?

My name is Siobhan, I’m a vampire, so I can’t tell you my age 😛 I play a little guitar and sing a bit more.

Where are you from?

I was born in Johannesburg which I still call home.

What are your favorite things about where you are from?

Home is where I learned and honed my skills. Johannesburg has grit and grind that I love. It’s the city of gold and dreams and wake-up calls and stark reality to me. It’s vibrant and touchy and imperfect and impactful.

Give us a short description of the kind of music you make.

I am a storyteller, my songs say so… I make music across a couple of genres and I don’t stick to any one, really. My focus is always on the story and what I am saying — if it’s about love then it’s about how I am saying it. I plan to explore music. Right now I am known for soulful house music, electro-soul and R&B.

If there was one or two core thoughts or ideas that you want your music to convey, what are they?

1) is to Think and grow outside of your comfort zone and the conventions that you have been forced to follow. 2) is to Love, whatever loving means and is to you: do it, find it, be it, be in it, live it, breathe it, follow it, dream it.

What are your musical dreams and aspirations? Not fame-wise, but creatively. What do you think you can do with music?

One is to score a movie/film with music house music, or music that was originally house. Because I have never seen that and I find house music incredibly emotive. I also want to write songs with Sia Fuller, Moses Sumney and Florence Welsh to name a FEW. Just being a part of that creative process would be an honour. I think they are incredible storytellers and I am all about the words. I want to do as many styles of music as I can. As a storyteller I think there are so many cool musical spaces to explore, and sticking to one genre is a bit odd to me. I want to tour a jazz album with incredible jazz musicians that I co-created the music with from all over the world.

Name one artist that you would like to collaborate with? What do you think that collaboration would sound like?

Bonobo. I first heard his music eight years ago and kicked myself for not hearing it sooner. I felt deprived of life. In my mind I hear a jazzy, future, otherworldly, beautiful piece that takes the listener to some beautiful world within.

What are you most looking forward to if you win the Battle of the Bands? What do you think winning could do for you?

Sharing my music with people who have not heard it before and introducing the different styles of music I do to those who only know what I have done so far, that alone would open me up to new minds and ears!!! and I get rub shoulders with INCREDIBLE artistI admire and who I’d love get to work with 🙂

Anything else you want to say to the AFROPUNK audience as a way of introduction?

I am a storyteller, my songs say so…

READ MORE ABOUT THE REST OF THE AFROPUNK JOBURG BATTLE OF THE BANDS FINALISTS:

MEET QUEER RAP DUO, KEABRUH&JAY.B

MEET LEON, A THOUGHTFUL “SINGING” SONGWRITER

MEET RED ROBYN, SINGER, MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST, “DREAMER”

MEET SOUL POP VOCALIST/RAPPER, THE RICKY TYLER SHOW

MEET AFRO-FOLK SINGER-GUITARIST, SERATI

MEET IKATI ESENGXOWENI, A SOULFUL ACOUSTIC DUO

MEET AFRO-POP/SOUL SINGER, LUIS_THEDON