Singer/songwriter Ayanda Jiya has a distinctive sound that blends gospel and jazz with the R&B and soul that soundtracked her childhood. Born Sibongile Ayanda Sizwesiyanda Jiya in 1987, the Klerksdorp native released her first EP, VIC (Very Intimate Conversations), in 2014; it featured “Go Go Girl”, a feel-good breakout single that drew fans across South Africa. With her 2019 full-length debut, Ayandastand, she continued to showcase her vulnerable lyrics and soothing vocals on songs like “Falling For You” and “Lover 4 Life” (featuring South African rappers A-Reece and Stogie T, respectively). “I wanted to be honest with myself and the person listening to this album,” Jiya told Apple Music, “to help them reflect on their lives and better understand who they are.”