Overcoming a stutter to sing
Jodi Jantjies, 20, of Tafelsig, released a new self-titled EP album and music video on Friday. Picture: Supplied
AMBER COURT
Having overcome a stutter, a young singer-songwriter from Mitchells Plain released her first EP album that explores this journey, building her self-confidence on stage and about her conversation with God.
Jodi Jantjies auditioned when she was 16 for the ATKV (Afrikaans Taal en Kuns Vereeniging) Crescendo panel which helped build her self-esteem and start her musical career in 2016.
The organisation helped to mould the young artist for five years, despite her stutter, to help her gain confidence on stage.
The 20 year old is excited for audiences to hear her original music, which she and her management team have worked on.
Her self-titled EP Jodi Jantjies, which was produced by Melvin Williams, has four tracks and includes a cover of the Anneli van Rooyen song I Believe.
“The message behind it is about an individual looking for God. I have experienced the amazing presence of God,” said Jantjies.
She previously released two singles with music videos called Lied van My Hart and Armageddon in August last year.
Jantjies hoped to show a different sound to Afrikaans music.
“My EP talks about me being in a dark place and now I am searching for God,” she said.
The artist was a part of music festivals such as Aardklop in 2016 to Suidoosterfees for a few years and then the #OnseFees last year.
She is a final year student at UWC studying towards a BA in Afrikaans literature.
“I am an Afrikaans major so it is important for me to speak the way I do day-to-day, so I won’t speak in standard Afrikaans,” she said.
Jantjies added that although people in her area were not fans of Afrikaans music, she hoped to show them the beauty of the genre.
“They can see that there are different variants of the language and that their variant of the way that they speak Afrikaans is valid,” she said.
Her goal is to be at the top of the South African music charts, but she felt that if her music only touches one person's heart, then that is enough.
She is a daughter of two pastors, Vanessa Jantjies and Adam Jantjies, who have their own congregation called Deeper Life Movement Pentecostal Church, in Tafelsig.
Jantjies filmed a music video in Stellenbosch last week for her song Remedy from the EP.
The youngster released a full online concert called Dit is… Jodi Jantjies on YouTube at the time her EP release.
Jantjies said that she had her stutter for her whole life.
“It wasn't easy, I resided myself to be the shy one, because of it.
“I am very introverted.
“When I auditioned for Crescendo that is where I started to change my mind about where I wanted to be,” she said.
Her brother Adrian Jantjies said he watched her grow musically into a star.
“She works so hard and has so much passion for music.
“She is a true inspiration to me and to everyone in her life.
“I’m so proud of her. A star is born,” he said.