Realising his music career would never reach the heights he dreamed it would in his home town of East London, Lungelo Rhasi (39) moved to Germiston in 2009.<\/p>\n
Now living in the Germiston CBD and performing under the name Lungstar Tida, Lungelo explained that his love of music began in his youth when he was part of the choir.<\/p>
\u201cMy friends and I used to try and sneak away from choir practices in primary school,\u201d Lungelo said when he visited the GCN recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we were caught we would get punished and often get beaten.<\/p>
\u201cOne day I decided that I would just stay at practice and discovered I really enjoyed it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Though he loved participating in the choir he said he never really took music seriously until his high school friend Sandile Qina pushed him to pursue a career in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe pulled the music from me,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
Lungelo began his musical career as a backing vocalist for other artists mainly in the gospel genre, but in 2013 he decided to take the plunge and begin his solo career.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy music is a combination of Afropop and house,\u201d said Lungelo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI moved away from gospel to better express myself and to better tell my story through music.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn gospel you sing about God which is wonderful, but I want to sing about what is happening in everyday life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lungelo draws inspiration from everything he sees when writing music.<\/p>\n
He takes inspiration not only from things happening in the world around him, but from his own personal experiences, as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost recently my music has focused on the culture of rape and how easily people can be accused of rape,\u201d explained Lungelo.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel that no one is talking about this side of the coin.\u201d<\/p>\n
Growing up listening to artists like R Kelly, J Scott and Simphiwe Dana, Lungelo feels his music has a soulful quality.<\/p>\n