R&B singer Thando enters the scene as a force to be reckoned with, with a SAMA nomination for best R&B/Soul album

To The Max is proud to announce the SAMA nomination of R&B songstress Thando for best R&B/Soul album for her EP A Force To Be Reckoned With.  The EP released 27 November 2020 chronicles the story of Thando’s love life and how she has let go of some relationships. Each song details the story of a new relationship narrated with a soulful authentic voice that makes her sound distinctively timeless.

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Thando, who was born Thando Ngoasheng in Johannesburg, wrote her first song at the beginning of South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown in March. She went on to release a string of singles independently and managed to draw the attention of local radio stations and UK music blog IndustryMe, which positioned her as a rising star. Thando charts in the Top 3 on Apple music with remarkable streams of over 280 000 on Apple Music, 66 000 on Spotify and 27 000 on YouTube and counting. 

“Music has been a journey for me, one filled with so much self discovery and in each note, each song is a little bit of me that all comes together as a beautiful, honest and vulnerable display of my truest self which makes my music so real because it has so much of my DNA in it. Right now feels like I’m living out my dream and it is so serene, music and singing will always be who I am and to be celebrated for that is truly amazing, I am grateful, fortunate and excited about the future”, she explains.

A Force To Be Reckoned With has been a breath of fresh air in the R&B industry

Her music is rooted in the new wave of R&B that has emerged across South Africa over the past two years. She draws influence from such artists as Billie Eilish and Sam Smith with a fuse of soul and pop in her music. Thando’s raw soulful sound is what effortlessly brings her music to life. With smooth soothing vocals, her vocal clarity is second to none. In addition, her truly emotive lyrical ability throughout provides the heartfelt feels required to resonate with so many people.

At some point the brooding, atmospheric, synthetic R&B sound in South Africa reached a saturation point. As a new artist, Thando was able to help break this fever, her blend of stripped-down acoustic sound and pure soulful voice on her EP A Force To Be Reckoned With has been a breath of fresh air in the R&B industry. 

“To The Max prides itself in housing talent with a pioneering skill in their craft and Thando has definitely been able to set herself apart as a force to be reckoned with in the industry. With a new EP on the way, negotiations with international recording labels and publishers under way the future is certainly bright and the sky’s the limit”, Ntando Zikalala, Founder and CEO – To The Max explains. 

Stream and purchase A Force To Be Reckoned With on all major digital stores.