We chat to multi-dimensional, multi talented Miss Lu Chase who is a Lyricist, Vocalist and Actress hailing from the largely underestimated streets of Belhar in Cape Town. She is also very lovingly known as the Cape Flats Diva. So, when meeting her and sitting down for a chat, what becomes very obvious is the pointed passion in her spirit that got her to this point in her career. She not only focuses on her own personal projects but also writes music for varying different successful South African Artists. She is currently recording her latest solo album, “Star mate” to be released in February 2012. The first banging single off of this glitter, sparkley delivery; “Mercury” was released in April this year.

Lady Miss Lu found her passion for music at the age of five. Seriously though can you just picture that? She says… “When I stepped onto the stage into that Spotlight, it felt so warm, I can’t explain it. I didn’t want to leave it”. She never did.

“This is the one relationship that’s going to last forever.” – Lu Chase

How did the Miss Lu Chase story come to life?

Growing up I got into classical music, performing in musical theatre plays and operatic performances When I left school in 1999, I phoned in to Bush Radio to send a dedication to my classmates, and instead I sang “I’m missing you”. The presenter told me to hold the line, and when she asked me to sign with her label, as a naïve 17 year old, I grabbed the opportunity.

What so far has been the ‘Pinch-Me-Moment’ of your career?

I performed for Quincy Jones (1997), and I said to him, “look, I’m in South Africa, and Dianna Ross is in America, but everyone wants me to sound like Diana Ross. I can adapt my voice to sound like that, but, it won’t really be me.” And he said to me, nobody is going to come from the USA to South Africa, to buy something from the USA.” And that was the turning point in my career; I knew that if I didn’t continue in the path that was rightfully mine, I wouldn’t be original. I wouldn’t be telling my story.

Tell us about the creative concept behind your upcoming album ?

The album is inspired by the planets and the stars, and how the earth is changing. I’m doing songs on this album differently to my previous albums that were danced based. Dance music isn’t something I’ve ever been into, now I’m at the point where I’m finding my own style. There’s nothing distinctly African about my sound, but South African audiences seems to love it. I think they love it because of the intention behind my music. And that’s what this album is. My music has a frequency of truth.

Tell us more about this frequency of Truth…

It comes from an honest place. Sometimes I feel like I’m channeling, I’m not even part of the performance. That’s why this album is so important to me. It was written last year, when I was very clear about what I wanted to say. It’s that I’ve been an observer. And that the world is changing so fast. I wanted to spread the message of love. We are never going to die, we were never born. Our bodies are our package, but it’s our soul frequency that inspires us. That speaks our words. So a lot of the songs on the album are inspired by stories that people can relate to. It will resonate with the audience.

When it comes to the music, this is Lu’s business, but most of all it is her passion. Aside from the album, Lu is shooting the second season of “Montana”, a South African Soapie based on the Cape Town Suburb. She plays a beauty therapist that fell pregnant at 17 and has put her dreams on hold. The character could not be further from Lu but in her flare for perfromance and artistry she gages all aspects of her role with gusto.

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INTERVIEW: Shana Genever