by Nhlawulo Vision Chauke
From being a social media sensation to headlining big events and releasing music with some of Mzansi’s finest, Yolanda Nyembezi is certainly enroute to stardom.
The Cum Laude, B Tech Vocal Arts Pedagogy Alumna from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has been at the top of the music charts for the past six years.
Popularly known in the music industry as Yallunder, started her studies at TUT in 2014 following a financial exclusion that redirected her to music. The singer admitted that although she had the voice and talent, she had little to no clue about opera and her examples or references were really limited.
“I had to select from what was available, which was a music degree. The choice to do arts-related studies was a controversial one, especially Opera of all choices.”
After completing her first qualification in 2016, she started using the techniques she learned during Opera classes to record song covers and interpret house songs to soulful music, which got fans predicting her future.
“At the time, I didn’t believe it when people said I will go far with my music, but they knew exactly what they liked and were talking about.”
Despite the lesser quality camera she had at the time, she captured the attention of thousands of fans and musical giants in South Africa with her soulful voice, the voice that she used extensively to create covers that captured the attention of prominent names such as Black Coffee and S'java in 2018. Her hit song, Ndinovalo, made waves after its release with over 1 million streams and it has featured on Netflix’s Blood and Water and South Africa’s BIGGEST TV Series, Diep City.
In the last four years, she has released three albums that have been nothing but a success.
Musician and TUT Vocal Arts: Pedagogy Baccalaureus Technologiae alumna Yolanda Nyembezi better known as Yallunder.
“I was signed to the 1020 Cartel by S’java, which elevated me to where I released my first song, Ndinovalo. From there on, things have been looking up for me.”
The sensational musician is now signed to her own record label, Masani Music, as an independent musician.
Her hard work has already won her a South African Music Award for Best Remix of the Year in 2023, for the song Ndinovalo Remix with Morda.
She has since also worked with legendary producer Oskido and other artists such as Kelvin Momo, Kabza De Small, Lemon & Herb.
