A 17-year-old Hout Bay schoolgirl is taking her first steps on the road to music stardom.
Mbali Makhoba, whose stage name is SA Fire, launched her latest single, Get Funky, with an accompanying music video, on YouTube on Friday April 7. At 15, she was the youngest artist to join Hout Bay record label Dreambox Studio, but has already released over 20 songs.
The Silikamva High School matric pupil sings RnB, soul, jazz and other genres that she says are inspired by love, right, wrong, war and daily life.
Her songs are written and composed by Carsten Lehn, the founder of Dreambox Studio.
Mbali’s singing career took off in 2021 when a close friend introduced her to Mr Lehn, who is now her manager.
“Ever since then we’ve been working really well together. I’m grateful for Mr Lehn, without him I wouldn’t understand music and have as much knowledge about it as I do now,” she says.
Mr Lehn made his first record in 1969 at age 17 and has produced, written and released over 600 songs in Denmark, England, Germany, America, Thailand and Vietnam.
Born in Denmark, he came to South Africa in 2004 and bought a flat in Hout Bay in 2014. He moved here permanently three years later.
He says he opened Dreambox Studio in 2006 to help aspiring artists like Mbali become professional artists.
“I’m semi-retired and now only want to support young talent and help them. It’s a jungle for the young and talented people and near impossible to make a living from making music. So, since I’m passionate about the profession, I want to help and give them what I did not have when I was young.
“Mbali is a prime example of what is possible with faith, determination and self-belief. She is super talented, sounds like a new Aretha Franklin and she believes in herself, is strong and has confidence.”
He adds that many of her songs have an international sound and celebrate being young and energetic.
“After working with her for more than two years and seeing her grow, both mentally and in her singing technique, as well as her way of expressing herself, I am deeply impressed with her way of capturing the audience and telling the story/lyrics.”
He selects artists after they send him an audio file with a song. If they are good, he invites them for an interview and a test recording.
“Talent is not enough as they must burn for it and have the right mind setting,” he says. “And they must be willing to put their full heart into it and be passionate about their future. Nothing comes by itself and they must earn it and want it and work for it.”
Mr Lehn also advises the artists on etiquette, how to dress, how to talk and how to behave themselves. “I also inform them about the traps that could occur if they get ‘famous’ and how to prevent that if they fall into such situations.“
Mbali says it’s important for her to feel comfortable and confident in what she wears. “Most of the time, the first thing people look at when they see you is what you’re wearing, which already automatically creates an impression about you.”
Mbali says she hopes the success she has had in the music business so far will inspire others. “I believe that you can achieve your dreams by keeping your goal in mind and working towards it every day. Success is yours irrespective of where you come from.”
