THE Bala Brothers are set to break into the United States.
Zwai, Loyiso and Phelo Bala have just struck a deal with the PBS network to air a live recording of their performance. The show will be screened on more than 300 channels across the US and Canada. PBS broadcasts to 96 percent of homes in the US.
With this TV concert recording, the Bala Brothers will join the ranks of Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban and Chris Botti who all gained popularity via PBS.
The siblings have also signed an international deal with Warner London to have their album released worldwide.
The show will be recorded live at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City on Saturday. The US producers have flown out their own crew and musical director for the show. The Balas will be joined by the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir on three songs with Loyiso and Zwai performing a song each from their solo repertoire. The youngest Bala, Phelo, will perform a hit by Billy Joel. They will also sing pop opera favourites as well as Paul Simon’s Under African Skies. They will be accompanied by a 24-piece orchestra directed by Kutlwano Masote.
Loyiso takes up the story: “Producer Daniel Hart saw us on YouTube and contacted us. We have been in negotiations for the past two years. We did a showcase for him, a vice-president from PBS, the musical director, Michael Whalen, and a representative from Warner London at the Yamaha Studio in Midrand. After we finished performing they met with us immediately afterwards and it was a done deal.”
“Since the beginning of the Bala Brothers I have always said it is when you see us live that you realise we don’t sit on opera only,” says Zwai. “We include genres like R&B and pop and end with kwaito.
“Just looking at how it’s been done, it’s going to be huge,” he continues. “There are close-up shots and it looks so pretty. It’s really a collaboration between the Bala Brothers and PBS.”
Says Loyiso: “This is what I wanted my entire career. When we were signing the contracts our address was somewhere here in Northcliff and then underneath we saw the London SWX address.”
“Yeah, that’s a serious number plate right there!” smiles Zwai.
Zwai and Loyiso have long and illustrious careers in the South African music industry with young Phelo also having released a solo album. All three were in the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir. That they are extremely talented, well-trained and consummate vocalists is of no doubt. They have also sorted out the issues of youth and know how to rub shoulders with the rich and famous, yet their attitude to life has helped them to remain humble. They have had enough experience on the business side of music not to be naïve. They are also hard workers and prefer to see solutions rather than problems. They are at the perfect place to seize a huge opportunity like this.
“Your attitude really matters,” says Loyiso.
“This show is going to show that South Africa has a multi- faceted culture. For the first time our music is going to speak ‘rainbow’.”
• The show will air on PBS in January. Get tickets (R250-R350) for Bala Brothers in Concert on Saturday at Computicket.