Netsayi

Singer/songwriter Netsayi was born into exile, the child of Southern Rhodesian parents who'd fled their home country and taken up residence in London. Netsayi and her two siblings were brought up in Camden by their mother; their father was a world away in Mozambique and Zambia working in guerrilla camps for his people's freedom and liberation. In 1980, at the age of 7, Netsayi moved with her family back to their homeland, formerly Southern Rhodesia, now independent Zimbabwe. Surrounded by a mosaic of music, including Congolese kwasa, South African jazz, Zimbabwean jit and mbira, U.S. R&B and the roots of hip-hop, music was a part of every aspect of Netsayi's life. From church to home to public celebrations, music provided a stable place for her in her otherwise chaotic world. She performed and wrote throughout her high school years, and though she would seek and education in film production, it was not long before her attentions shifted to music full-time. She began playing in U.K. acoustic music circuits in 2001 and quickly established herself as an artistic force worthy of the nation's most prestigious stages, including the Royal Albert and Queen Elizabeth Halls. In 2004, Netsayi created her own independent label Militant Prince, on which she released her debut single "Tatters," which became a national underground hit. She formed a relationship with the World Connection label in 2006, releasing her debut record Chimurenga Soul. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez, Rovi