专辑简介

He was born in Soweto into a family whose musical heritage spans at least 5 generations: the Muyanga clan are eminent composers and the originators of the Mozambician mbila - the forebearer of instruments like the marimba and the xylophone. From 1991 to 1993 Neo studied the Italian madrigal tradition with choral maestro, piero poclen at the united world college in Trieste, Italy. In 1993, after college, Neo joined footprints theatre company in Nottingham, England, creating soundtracks to accompany the troupes plays which toured around the United Kingdom. On returning to South Africa at the end of 1994, Neo enrolled for a course in audio engineering at Johannesburg Downtown Studios by Philip Nel (nels discographie reads like an encyclopedia of South Africas pop and traditional music industry of the 70s and 80s). In 1996, Neo formed the acoustic duo, BLK Sonshine, with Masauko Chipembere. BLK Sonshine toured extensively throughout South Africa and Swasiland and later, in 1998, relocated to the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. Together with legendary producer, Russel Pope (formerly of British group Supertramp) the duo recorded and released their epynomously titeled debut album, which included the hitsongs "born in a taxi" and "soul smile". BLK Sonshine toured the west and east coasts of America for two years, popularising their sound within the poetry, hip hop and acoustic folk scenes of L.A. and New York. Returning to South Africa again in 2001, Neo setteled in Cape Town, where he began work on his solo album, the listening room. This record, launched in 2002, included the hit-song "my world", which became a popular fixture on radio and television across South Africa as a result of beeing used as the theme track for the television series "all your need is love". Neo continoues to tour throughout South Africa and Europe, performing his solo show (on vocals, guitar, piano and mesinko - a traditional ethopian instrument), and also with a variety of ensembles. He also collaborates regulary on stage productions with groups such as Cape Towns critically acclaimed Jazzart Dance Theatre, Magnet Theatre and more recently with remix dance projects - a company made up of disabled as well as able bodied dancers.