GRAMMY-Winning Team Joins Lusanda on Stunning New Single ‘Progress’
By CityLife Arts Writer
“Progress” is Lusanda’s second single, produced by an all-star team of GRAMMY winners and nominees (Biako, Sunny Kale, Charlotte Day Wilson, Matthew Tavares). The soulful R&B track mirrors its lyrics — beginning in uncertainty before blooming into brightness — and captures her signature emotional precision.
Reflecting on the track’s creation, Lusanda says: “The chords are so whimsical. They are fun and warm. That will always get me but the drums are what really drew me in cos they’re so strong and Sunny Kale is amazing at that. Biako came in and suggested these subtle strings in the song which completed that child-like dreamy feeling I wanted — to remind you that something is coming.”
Recent milestones include her haunting Spotify Singles cover of “Mad World” (EQUAL Africa program), recognition as part of Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class of 2025, and opening for Sasha Keable at the Once Upon A Time Festival. With “Progress,” Lusanda cements her standing as one of the most captivating new voices from South Africa.
Lusanda Ngcobo, known mononymously as Lusanda, didn’t always plan to be a singer — she trained as a ballerina from age five and studied choreography at the University of Cape Town. Born in Durban and raised in Johannesburg, her early life was steeped in music and movement, from marimbas to choirs.
Her vocal journey began on TikTok, where her covers, blending R&B stylings with pop, rap, and Amapiano, gained traction. In 2023, a spontaneous rendition of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” went viral, earning millions of views. By early 2024, she was in the studio with Manana and Uncle Waffles, resulting in the single “Echoes.”
Her debut solo single, “When You’re Around” (Sept 2024), began as an improvisation over a TikTok beat by London producer noxz and has since become a fan favorite, reflecting her mix of pop, soul, and the jazz influences of her childhood.
Most recently, she released a Spotify Singles cover of “Mad World,” reimagining Gary Jules’ version of the Tears for Fears classic for the platform’s EQUAL Africa program.
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