A cosy show for the heart of winter

Can Skylark will sing in 'Just in June' at the CTICC on June 23.

Rafiek Mammon

CAN SKYLARK is a feisty, fresh new voice on the music circuit. She can be heard alongside other Cape- based artists and two comedians at the CTICC at Just in June, a one-night-only performance on June 23.

The singer’s rendition will be mainly acoustic, with guitar and keyboard backing, performing her own material, as well as two Alicia Keys covers.

Skylark is about to release her debut CD: “My new single will be released before the end of this month and the rest of my album is forecast to hit the music scene around mid-July. You could call it acoustic pop, or soul with an R&B feel. It is a feel-good expression of my heart. It is basically my interpretation of life and love set to music,” she says.

Skylark has been doing the tribute circuit for a good 10 years, including tackling a Celine Dion tribute show directed by Joe Recrosio. “I have been doing a round trip on the tribute scene.

“These days I am concentrating on the smaller stages and venues in the city where I am also trying to get more of my original material and my name out there,” she says.

Is there musical life after tributes? “It is that very same tribute show circuit that has given me a lot of exposure in a way that I might not have had.

“I have now found the appropriate time and energy to grow my own wings and produce an album that represents me and my expressions of music. Tall order, but I’m so ready to take on the music world as an artist,” she says.

“I pride myself on being a versatile singer and all-round performer, thanks to years of experience on a stage. Hopefully my creativity has rippled into all spheres of my life as well as my music, and I hope it has all come together in what I’d like to think is my own unique sound.”

She describes Just in June as a “cosy show in the heart of winter that is sure to make you forget all about the grey clouds outside, at least for one evening.”

Performers will include stand-up comedians, impersonators and singers.

“I am privileged to share a stage with some magnificent artists, namely Gary Naidoo and Keeno Lee, who will sing material from his album Your Man, in addition to a cover of George Michael. Gary Naidoo will be the impersonator in the line-up. Audiences can expect his Stevie Wonder impersonation, as well as an interpretation of James Brown’s I Feel Good.

“Maunique will also appear. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her before – she is young, hungry and really has that sought-after raw singing talent.

“Then there’s Tashriq Ahmed, a comedian that I am really keen to watch live since he had me rolling off my chair with laughter and he wasn’t even on a stage or trying to be funny. And of course, MC Wayne McKay – I just look at him and I start laughing.”

Mckay has worked on new material for the show. He says: “SA has a wealth of material to choose from – just look at Julius (Malema) and the ANC Youth League. There is the famous painting debacle… the country is like one big reservoir of comedy. As a social commentator, I am also very careful to not just concentrate on politics.

“The political landscape may offer much material, but we must not forget that our communities can be just as funny. And, as someone who lives in a very ‘coloured’ community, I have so much to draw on right here in my backyard.”

“I want people to come out and have a great time laughing at themselves. We can take ourselves too seriously at times and we can be very sensitive when it comes to our sense of humour. I am hoping that my brand of humour for the Convention Centre event will challenge that a bit,” adds Mackay.

Skylark hopes that the evening will be jam-packed with everything from jaw-dropping singing talent to varied impersonations “that’ll blow your skirt up”.

“Bring your family and spread the word. This is one way of supporting fresh young talent.”

As a young up-and-coming artist, how does she feel about her future in the music industry?

“The SA industry is way too small. Our ideas about what works and what doesn’t work is very limited. We aren’t always open to new ideas, no matter how bizarre, or unorthodox. I believe in music and therefore there are no rules. There is no recipe to music – it is artistic expression.

“Ultimately, I would rather be a small fish in a bigger pool of opportunities.”

l Just in June will be staged at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on June 23. Tickets are R50. For more imformation, or to book, call Wayne at 082 724 7968 or Tashriq at 073 186 1884.