iYA IS READY!

iYA embodies the girl she believes herself to be. Her music is genuine, organic, and brimming with emotion.

iYA is a singer-songwriter from Eswatini who made her debut in 2022 with the release of her first EP, “Straight Up”.

In 2023, iYA teamed up with Grammy award winning singer/songwriter Manana to co-write and Produce her sophomore EP “In My Feels” which was well received by her audience.

This EP defined her sound and cemented her presence in the industry. Simplistic and Natural in approach her sound is a blend of Neo Soul, RnB and Soul.

iYA on the big stage…

Last month she made her debut performance at the Standard Bank Luju Food and Lifestyle Festival where she thrilled thousands of fun lovers with her soothing sounds. She gave her fans something to munch on with her songs from her debut album which was released in June.

“I’ve been attending the festival for years now and loved the experience more and more each year. I’ve always wanted to be a part of it and thank God I was there this year. Inside!”

iYA has since Performed at numerous events and festivals across the country including the prestigious MTN Bushfire Festival 2023/2024. She has also graced stages in South Africa and Botswana.

She has also appeared and performed on SABC 3’s Expresso Breakfast show and play listed in a number radio stations including Power Fm (SA), Gold Dust Radio (UK), Radio Botswana 2 (BW) and EBIS to name a few..

Taking her sound to the world

With her debut album I ‘Feel Deeply’ dropped on June 27, iYA is ready to go even deeper.

If you’ve been following her journey, you know this moment didn’t happen overnight. iYA has spent the last three years doing the work quietly, consistently. From her debut EP Straight Up to the soul-shaping In My Feels (co-written and produced by Grammy winner Manana), she’s built a sound that doesn’t try to prove anything.

The EP, which iYA said helped her discover what she really wanted to say, gave her sound depth. Her lyrics became sharper, her melodies more vulnerable. And people noticed.

“In My Feels helped me tap into my emotions in a more structured way. wanted to talk about what it means to feel everything, all at once. And not apologise for it.” She has said in interviews. Since then, iYA has been a steady presence on stages across Eswatini, South Africa, and Botswana.

“ I grew up in a Christian family and I’m the least of  four  kids(my two sisters were already in high school by the time o got to primary, blasting RnB music every weekend)so I’ve always been exposed music. Lots of Christian music, RnB, Soul and whatever was popular on radio.

“My love for music has always been there. I knew I wanted to do music as early as mid-primary and decided to go for it after high school. One of the best decision I’ve ever made. Everything else sort of organically align after I made the decision leading to right now.”

She often appears with a band or acoustic backing, allowing her voice to be front and centre. People who’ve seen her live say the same thing, she doesn’t perform at the crowd she performs with them.

And yet, she’s still remarkably down to earth. Despite working with celebrated creatives and growing her profile across the region, iYA remains calm and grounded.

The music, for her, is sacred. And that’s what fans have come to love most about her. Her stories feel honest. Her voice feels familiar. And her songs feel like letters you once wrote but never sent.

Looking back at Straight Up, her first EP, you hear the rawness of someone just entering the scene. Songs like ‘Skin’ and ‘Call me’ introduced listeners to a voice that was still finding itself but even then, it was clear that this was someone to watch.