Nianell | |
---|---|
Birth name | Sonia Aletta Nel [1] |
Born | Omaruru, Namibia | September 25, 1971
Genres | Pop, adult contemporary |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, motivational speaker, author [2] |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano, guitar |
Years active | 1990–present |
Labels | Nianell Enterprises |
Website | Nianell.co.za |
Sonia Aletta Nel (born September 25, 1971 in Omaruru, Namibia), better known as Nianell, is a singer, songwriter, pianist, and guitarist.
After growing up in Windhoek, Nianell graduated with a three-year diploma in light music from Pretoria Technikon in South Africa. She studied classical music at Trinity College in London and at the University of South Africa. [3]
She has a four-octave vocal range and her songs have been described as including "elements of folk, pop, R&B, country, classic and even Celtic music." [4] Four of her albums (Who Painted The Moon?, Angel Tongue, Life's Gift, and I Know I'm Lucky) reached platinum status in South Africa. Nianell gained her first international platinum hit with the song "Who Painted the Moon?" The composition was covered by another international singer, Hayley Westernra on the album Pure. The album sold more than 2 million copies and Nianell's version was featured as a single on this album.[ citation needed ] In April 2011, she released her first album in the United States. [5] She has won two SAMA Awards: Angel Tongue won Best English Contemporary Album, and "We'll Find a Way" won her Best Female Songwriter.
She released a duet album with Dozi and another duet album with afropop group Romanz in May 2011.[ needs update ] [5]
She and her ex-husband, [6] Andrew Thompson, have triplets, all girls. [7] In 1998, she played netball in the Namibian national team. [8] Nianell's younger sister, Riana Nel, is also an acclaimed singer and songwriter. Both sisters have performed together on several occasions.
Nelly Kim Furtado is a Canadian singer and songwriter. She has sold over 45 million records, including 35 million in album sales worldwide, making her one of the most successful Canadian artists. Critics have noted Furtado's musical versatility and experimentation with genres.
Catherine Yvette Ceberano is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the soul, jazz, and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar. Her single "Bedroom Eyes" received a platinum sales certification in 1989. As of 2023, Ceberano has 11 platinum and 8 gold albums Ceberano was the artistic director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Wendy Joan Matthews is a Canadian-born Australian singer-songwriter who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist. She released Top 20 hit singles in the 1990s including "Token Angels", "Let's Kiss ", "The Day You Went Away" and "Friday's Child" with Top 20 albums, You've Always Got The Blues, Émigré, Lily, The Witness Tree and her compilation, Stepping Stones. She has won six Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards. According to rock music historian, Ian McFarlane she provides "extraordinary, crystal-clear vocals [...] a soulfulness that was the mark of a truly gifted singer".
Syreeta Wright, who recorded professionally under the mononym Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights were songs in collaboration with her ex-husband Stevie Wonder and musical artist Billy Preston.
Rodney Crowell is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt. He has also written songs and produced for other artists.
"Unforgettable" is a popular song written by Irving Gordon. The song's original working title was "Uncomparable,” however, the music publishing company asked Gordon to change it to "Unforgettable.” The song was published in 1951.
Melba Joyce Montgomery is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is known for a series of duet recordings made with George Jones, Gene Pitney and Charlie Louvin. She is also a solo artist, having reached the top of the country charts in 1974 with the song, "No Charge". Born in Tennessee but raised in Alabama, Montgomery had a musical upbringing. Along with her two brothers, she placed in a talent contest which brought her to the attention of Roy Acuff. For several years she toured the country as part of his band until she signed with United Artists Records in 1963.
Piet van Wyk de Vries was an independent South African songwriter born in Pretoria in 1972.
Susan Ashton is an American contemporary Christian music and country music artist who topped the Christian charts throughout the 1990s. In 1991 she began using her mother's maiden name, Ashton, when she recorded her first single, in order to distinguish herself from CCM singer Kim Hill.
Jan Adriaan Hoogendyk, known professionally as Elvis Blue, is a South African musician and songwriter.
Riana Nel is a Namibian singer and songwriter. After growing up in Windhoek she moved to Pretoria, South Africa, to start her career.
Juanita du Plessis is a Namibian Afrikaans country singer. She became known for her song Ska-Rumba. Du Plessis' singing career began in 1998 with her debut album Juanita. That year she won the CMA awards as best singer, best songwriter and the Association's Award for outstanding achievement.
Nomfusi Gotyana, known mononymously as Nomfusi, is a South African singer and performer of Afro-Soul music. She was born in the township of KwaZakhele in the Eastern Cape. Her mother Kwazibani raised her while her father languished in jail for 21 years. A domestic worker by day, Kwazibani was a sangoma with a gift for music. Nomfusi accompanied her mother to the weekly sangoma rituals ("Intlombe") where Nomfusi developed her musicality. She is a two-time South African Music Awards nominee, Metro FM Award nominee and performed on multiple local and international tours.
Kimmie Rhodes is an American singer-songwriter. She has recorded and released a total of sixteen solo CDs, written and produced three musicals and published a novella/cookbook, served as an associate producer for a documentary, They Called Us Outlaws presented by the Country Music Hall of Fame and produced radio documentary/music programming for her show Radio Dreams, which focused on the history of American roots music and artists. She has also appeared in multiple films and a theatre production, Is There Life After Lubbock? Her songs have appeared on multiple television and film soundtracks. She has established and released her own records on her label, Sunbird Music for over 25 years. Kimmie's promotional tours created a solid fan base in the U.K., Ireland and Europe. She has headlined with her band at festivals throughout the world and has appeared on many European and American TV and radio broadcasts and at Willie Nelson's Farm Aid concerts and July 4 Picnics. Together with Willie Nelson she recorded two of her originals for his album Just One Love and a duet CD, "Picture in a Frame". She lives and records in Austin and tours internationally with her son and producer/multi-instrumentalist, Gabriel Rhodes.
Patricia Lewis is a South African singer, actress and television presenter.
The Ride is the sixth studio album released by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado. It was released on 31 March 2017 by her own record label, Nelstar Music. It is her second independently released album after Mi Plan (2009).
Tia Ray is a Chinese singer-songwriter from Hunan, China. She rose to fame in 2012 as a contestant on the televised singing competition The Voice of China, where she finished as one of the final contenders. She has since released four commercially successful albums, all of which she co-wrote and co-produced.
Busiswa Gqulu, known mononymously as Busiswa, is a South African singer-songwriter and poet. Born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, she gained public recognition for her feature on DJ Zinhle's song, "My Name Is", after being discovered by Kalawa Jazmee's CEO Oskido.
Now Is the Time is the eleventh studio album by South African singer Brenda Fassie. Released on August 4, 1996, by CCP Records, this is her eleventh album for the label. Now Is The Time features two duets with Congolese superstar Papa Wemba.
Janie Bay is a South African singer-songwriter from the Helderberg area of Cape Town. She is currently signed to Warner Music South Africa.