Christine Vaindirlis

The pan-African release, “Dance Mama!” by Christine Vaindirlis boasts her share of talent as a vocalist and music arranger. “Dance Mama!” has been pumped up with horns, polyrhythms and powerhouse vocals that swim their way through a variety of musical genres, pan-African (“Indaba” and “Down by the River”), sultry-smoky jazz (“Should I Make You Pay”), funk (“No More Drama”) and South African vocal harmonies (“Dance Mama!”). She even tosses in a bit of Afro-Latin salsa.

The vocalist effortlessly sails through these diverse musical styles. I envy her energy and enthusiasm, not to mention her record collection (which must contain a lot of American jazz with an emphasis on blues, New Orleans jazz and recordings from throughout the African continent). She possesses a good ear for horn arrangements and music production. No doubt we will be hearing more from this diva in years to come. - World Music Central

"The audience was greeted by the drumbeats of the South African group, led by vocalist Christine Vaindirlis and boasting a powerful horn section. During the song "Pata Pata," named for a popular dance, members of the audience familiar with the well-known South African tune took to their feet, swinging their arms and kicking up their heels with delight. The lively spirit of the group proved contagious and the audience was soon clapping along. " - The Groove, Boston

Christine Vaindirlis may not be an easily recognised name but the lady’s work is renowned. From being the co- founder of Ubuntu Entertainment, a composer for Deepa Grooves - a New York House Music Label, an assistant manager at Guitar Center and a Production manager for JSM, a prestigious music production house also in New York City, Vaindirlis plans to deliver her debut album “Dance Mama”.

The much anticipated album is a tribute to the legendary musicians who paved the way for artistry which include Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mahotella Queens, Robbie Jansen and the late Mama Mirriam Makeba. The album in its way showcases her love for African people and is infused with a mixture of high energy beat accompanied by the educational messages carried by her lovely voice which has been said to be a bridging gap between the Mahotella Queens and Mama Makeba.

The new tunes are planned for release in the USA this November and hopefully South Africa will get it shortly therafter.
- JAMATI

There are a handful of feel-good artists out there whose music can carry a great party into the wee hours of the morning -- Christine Vaindrilis and her new album, ‘Dance Mama!’ do just that.

Vaindrilis’ positive and bright life outlook are reflected in the sunshine-soaked ethnic beats and lively jazz vocals of ‘Dance Mama!’. A ten-track collection of world-music, infused with the syncopated rhythms of traditional jazz piano and big-band brass instruments, Vaindrilis’s rich voice brings the sounds and eternal optimism of the people of South Africa to listeners living rooms; a surefire way to usher in an impromptu dance party wherever it’s played.

Exclusive Magazine recently sat with Christine Vaindirlis to learn more about her cultivated inspiration behind the new album, ‘Dance Mama!’ and her seeding as a true citizen of the world after an interesting journey to New York City via Milan, Italy and Johannesburg, South Africa.

Your music has its eclectic roots in jazz, funk and Afro-beat. Who were your musical influences growing up and how many still factor into your music today? "That's a very big question and difficult to answer. I would say everything that I've listened to and any good song with one of those melodies that you carry around with you for days has been my influence."

"I grew up listening to a lot of traditional black South Africanmusic, likeMiriam Makeba, High Masekela, Robbie Jansen, Mahlathini and the mahotella Queens, Johnny Clegg, Abdullah Ibrahim, Paul Simonenjoying all the traditional singing and dancing in the market place at any given day in downtown Johannesburg, but was also exposed to and soon fell in love with western pop, funk and Jazz on the radio - Tower of Power, Genesis, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Earth, Wind and Fire, P-Funk, Sting, Stevie Wonder as well as from Ella & Louis Armstrong to Miles Davis, Coltrane, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Hendrix, Toto,Albertina Walker, Mahalia Jackson, and a bit of classical too -Mozart, Rachmaninov, Bach, and the list can goes on forever...I still listen to them, good music is timeless!!"

You’re set to release your debut album, Dance Mama!, on November 3rd. As an up-and-coming artist, how would you describe the sound and style of your music? "A high energy fusion of Funk, R&B and Jazz mixed with South African flavored vocals and horn arrangements."



The new album is nod to your South African roots. Tell us a little about the journey from your hometown of Johannesburg to the Brooklyn, New York music scene "The pursuit of being a musician led me from Johannesburg right out of high school, to Milan - Italy where I got the opportunity to train as an opera singer at the Conservatorio di Milano "Giuseppe Verdi" and later under "La Scala di Milano" supervision while at the same time, being introduced to the jazz and gospel music scene in the evenings."

"Like most people, I had to earn a living, so I started teaching English at businesses and was then offered a full-time position at IBM as a corporate executive, while continuing to pursue my dream in music, performing and studying in the evenings. I was getting ready to change jobs when one day, by "chance" came across the Berklee College of Music's European Scholarship audition schedule and realized I could give it a shot. I had always wanted to go to Berklee right after high school but my parents were a bit weary of me venturing out to the US by myself at such a young age."

"So, soon thereafter I was off to Boston, thanks also to IBM who also helped a bit with a financial contribution. After four years of ten consecutive semesters in Contemporary writing, arranging, production and performance as a voice principal, I got an internship at a prestigious music house in New York City and made the big move. However, through-out all my travels, music from home never left my side, it always brought me joy, made me want to dance and reminded me of where I came from. The sun always shines in South Africa, and through all those years in Milan - as much as I loved being there, the gloomy weather was killing me - so all I needed to do to feel better was listen to a bit of Miriam Makeba and the sun would shine again!! :)"

A true citizen of the world, where is one place you haven’t visited that you would love to see sometime in your life and why? "I would love to go to Australia, the Philippines, Polinesia, Brasil, Argentina, Antartica, Ah! So many places, I love traveling, nature and the ocean. It gives me a sense of freedom, I love to appreciating God's marvelous creation and meet new people from different cultures. At the end of the day, we all live the same dramas in relationships, experience loss and birth, have the same desires, necessities and hopes...just seen through the eyes of different culture."



The debut album, Dance Mama!, shares its name with the title track. Why did you choose this particular song as your musical introduction to the world? "I chose this track because it - Exclussive Magazine

CHRISTINE VAINDIRLIS/Dance Mama: There are some wonderful records and videos coming from unexpected places by women that look like someone’s mom playing dress up or someone’s aunt on coke that don’t give you much hope and wind up absolutely blowing you away. This is one of those unexpected treats. A globe traveling world beater, Vaindirlis has got a real nose for funk. While she seasons it with tricks she’s picked up from her travels, it’s not served up in that weird, warmed over way that so much funk that crosses the pond comes back to us as. With the help and support of a load of first call talent, Vaindirlis has a great break out set that chases away flavorless pap and really gives the booty an upbeat drubbing. Hot stuff throughout. - Midwest Records

Christine Vaindirlis may not be an easily recognised name but the lady’s work is renowned. From being the co- founder of Ubuntu Entertainment, a composer for Deepa Grooves - a New York House Music Label, an assistant manager at Guitar Center and a Production manager for JSM, a prestigious music production house also in New York City, Vaindirlis plans to deliver her debut album “Dance Mama”.

The much anticipated album is a tribute to the legendary musicians who paved the way for artistry which include Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mahotella Queens, Robbie Jansen and the late Mama Mirriam Makeba. The album in its way showcases her love for African people and is infused with a mixture of high energy beat accompanied by the educational messages carried by her lovely voice which has been said to be a bridging gap between the Mahotella Queens and Mama Makeba.

The new tunes are planned for release in the USA this November and hopefully South Africa will get it shortly therafter.
- JAMATI

ARTIST NAME: Christine Vaindrlis

HOMETOWN/CURRENTLY BASED: Hometown: Johannesburg South Africa, Based in: New York City

WEB SITE:www.christinevaindirlis.com, www.myspace.com/christinevaindirlis

INFLUENCES: Paul Simon, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hiromi, Mahotella Queens, Tower of Power, Toto, Hugh Masakela, Robbie Jansen, Angelique Kidgo, Icognito, Diane Reeves, Johnny Clegg, Stevie Wonder, P-Funk, Peter Gabriel , Patti Labelle and the list goes on,. But mainly any good song with a melody or groove that sticks to mind and comes up as I’m walking down the street and pesters me (in a good way) throughout the day !!

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Christine Vaindirlis born in London, mainly grew up in South Africa and then moved to Italy to pursue her life dream in music. Under a full scholarship, she commenced her studies at the “Conservatorio di Milano G.Verdi” in Italy where after she was awarded a scholarship by the Region of Lombardy to study opera under the supervision of professionals from the famous “Teatro della Scala di Milano”. She was then endowed “The Berklee College of Music Achievement Scholarship”, Boston in 2001 and graduated with a dual B.M. Cum Laude in Contemporary Writing & Production and Performance as a Voice principal. She also served as an ambassador of the college for the World Scholarship Tour Auditions in Boston. In 2003 she was awarded the Solo and Ensemble Award for Outstanding Musicianship by the prestigious institution.
- Between the 90’s – to date Christine has had extensive experience working as a sideman and band leader in the many facets of the music industry over diverse stylistic approaches from Funk, Pop, R&B, Jazz/Fusion to World Music. She has had the privilege of working with a vast array of vocalists and musicians among which Telarc Recording Artist Hiromi, Layla Hathaway, Esperanza Spalding, Leni Stern, Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Cedras, Wunmi, Abraham Laboriel, Tower of Power Ensemble, Morris Goldberg, Daniel Sadownick, Gilad Ronen and Andre Juarez, performing in world renown venues and festivals such as the International Folk Music Festival in Boston, the Miriam Makeba Tribute Concert in New York 2008, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in South farica, the Musicians and Emerging Artists Festival in New York, the Cotton Club in Tokyo, Le Poisson Rouge and the legendary Zinc Bar in New York, the Piccolo Teatro di Milano and Auditorium di San Fedele in Milan Italy and the Epidauros Theatre in Greece just to name a few. She was also the founder of a twenty-three piece Boston based band, “SHIKISHA!,” a production promoting the traditional Music of South Africa.
– In 2008, Christine’s single, “What about You,” under deepaGrooves hit the House Music Charts. It and was later remixed by Clive Mckenzie, Keith Blackstone and Brian Burnside in the US, and Charles Webster in the UK to be released later on this year.
- Christine, a true citizen of the world now currently resides in New York City will be releasing her new album Dance Mama!, November 3rd 2009 at the Zinc Bar NYC, with sound provided by BOSE. A high-energy fusion of Funk, Jazz and South African influenced vocal and horn arrangements featuring an “All-star” band of supporting artists like Hiromi Uehara (Telarc Recording Artist), Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Cedras, Morris Goldberg, Daniel Sadownick just to name a few, under Ubuntu World Music.

I SUBMITTED TO THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS BECAUSE:
When somebody is under a label, it can be easier to get exposure and recognition and most of the times the artist needs only focus on being great at what they do. The Independent Music Awards gives independent artists like myself, who most of the time do everything themselves, a comparable opportunity and help to grow and further their careers, to be recognized and get exposure.
I’M PROUD TO BE AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST BECAUSE: I have complete control of my vision for the music and the standard that I set for it including production, the artwork, the musicians, the lyrics, the package and me (the product) as an artists and how it is presented altogether.

WHAT’S NEXT:
I just finished Dance Mama!, so we’re working on taking this project on the road and to the next level.
So far:
1. Musicians and Emerging Artists Festival – Crash Mansion – September 24th @ 7pm
2. The Bitter End – October (2nd week tbd)
3. “DANCE MAMA!” CD RELEASE November 3rd, come party with us at the Zinc Bar, NYC @ 9:30 pm. Sound will be provided by BOSE.
SUCCESS = “SHIKISHA!” I directed this entertaining twenty-three Boston based band with ten singers, a horn section, percussionists etc., promoting the traditional music of South Africa. It was a lot of fun!! DANCE MAMA! will be a HIT!!

WHAT MAKES MY MUSIC STAND OUT: DANCE MAMA! is original music written, arranged, produced and performed by Christine Vaindirlis together with an all-star supporting band that has the whole world covered. It is a high energy fusion of Jazz, Funk, Pop with So - IMA

ARTIST NAME: Christine Vaindrlis

HOMETOWN/CURRENTLY BASED: Hometown: Johannesburg South Africa, Based in: New York City

WEB SITE:www.christinevaindirlis.com, www.myspace.com/christinevaindirlis

INFLUENCES: Paul Simon, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hiromi, Mahotella Queens, Tower of Power, Toto, Hugh Masakela, Robbie Jansen, Angelique Kidgo, Icognito, Diane Reeves, Johnny Clegg, Stevie Wonder, P-Funk, Peter Gabriel , Patti Labelle and the list goes on,. But mainly any good song with a melody or groove that sticks to mind and comes up as I’m walking down the street and pesters me (in a good way) throughout the day !!

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Christine Vaindirlis born in London, mainly grew up in South Africa and then moved to Italy to pursue her life dream in music. Under a full scholarship, she commenced her studies at the “Conservatorio di Milano G.Verdi” in Italy where after she was awarded a scholarship by the Region of Lombardy to study opera under the supervision of professionals from the famous “Teatro della Scala di Milano”. She was then endowed “The Berklee College of Music Achievement Scholarship”, Boston in 2001 and graduated with a dual B.M. Cum Laude in Contemporary Writing & Production and Performance as a Voice principal. She also served as an ambassador of the college for the World Scholarship Tour Auditions in Boston. In 2003 she was awarded the Solo and Ensemble Award for Outstanding Musicianship by the prestigious institution.
- Between the 90’s – to date Christine has had extensive experience working as a sideman and band leader in the many facets of the music industry over diverse stylistic approaches from Funk, Pop, R&B, Jazz/Fusion to World Music. She has had the privilege of working with a vast array of vocalists and musicians among which Telarc Recording Artist Hiromi, Layla Hathaway, Esperanza Spalding, Leni Stern, Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Cedras, Wunmi, Abraham Laboriel, Tower of Power Ensemble, Morris Goldberg, Daniel Sadownick, Gilad Ronen and Andre Juarez, performing in world renown venues and festivals such as the International Folk Music Festival in Boston, the Miriam Makeba Tribute Concert in New York 2008, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in South farica, the Musicians and Emerging Artists Festival in New York, the Cotton Club in Tokyo, Le Poisson Rouge and the legendary Zinc Bar in New York, the Piccolo Teatro di Milano and Auditorium di San Fedele in Milan Italy and the Epidauros Theatre in Greece just to name a few. She was also the founder of a twenty-three piece Boston based band, “SHIKISHA!,” a production promoting the traditional Music of South Africa.
– In 2008, Christine’s single, “What about You,” under deepaGrooves hit the House Music Charts. It and was later remixed by Clive Mckenzie, Keith Blackstone and Brian Burnside in the US, and Charles Webster in the UK to be released later on this year.
- Christine, a true citizen of the world now currently resides in New York City will be releasing her new album Dance Mama!, November 3rd 2009 at the Zinc Bar NYC, with sound provided by BOSE. A high-energy fusion of Funk, Jazz and South African influenced vocal and horn arrangements featuring an “All-star” band of supporting artists like Hiromi Uehara (Telarc Recording Artist), Bakithi Kumalo, Tony Cedras, Morris Goldberg, Daniel Sadownick just to name a few, under Ubuntu World Music.

I SUBMITTED TO THE INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS BECAUSE:
When somebody is under a label, it can be easier to get exposure and recognition and most of the times the artist needs only focus on being great at what they do. The Independent Music Awards gives independent artists like myself, who most of the time do everything themselves, a comparable opportunity and help to grow and further their careers, to be recognized and get exposure.
I’M PROUD TO BE AN INDEPENDENT ARTIST BECAUSE: I have complete control of my vision for the music and the standard that I set for it including production, the artwork, the musicians, the lyrics, the package and me (the product) as an artists and how it is presented altogether.

WHAT’S NEXT:
I just finished Dance Mama!, so we’re working on taking this project on the road and to the next level.
So far:
1. Musicians and Emerging Artists Festival – Crash Mansion – September 24th @ 7pm
2. The Bitter End – October (2nd week tbd)
3. “DANCE MAMA!” CD RELEASE November 3rd, come party with us at the Zinc Bar, NYC @ 9:30 pm. Sound will be provided by BOSE.
SUCCESS = “SHIKISHA!” I directed this entertaining twenty-three Boston based band with ten singers, a horn section, percussionists etc., promoting the traditional music of South Africa. It was a lot of fun!! DANCE MAMA! will be a HIT!!

WHAT MAKES MY MUSIC STAND OUT: DANCE MAMA! is original music written, arranged, produced and performed by Christine Vaindirlis together with an all-star supporting band that has the whole world covered. It is a high energy fusion of Jazz, Funk, Pop with So - IMA

Christine Vaindirlis Exclusive right here on the Jamati podium as she walks us through her globetrotting journey, from London to growing up in one of the hardest South African eras (apartheid), to dreaming her way out of South Africa into the beginning of her life inspiring journey.

If there is one thing I’ve learnt from doing this interview, it’s that “Giving up in life is never an option, everything is possible, we just gotta believe and keep on dreaming, speaking life to the world were everything is possible. Christine herself is a major inspiration and I hope that every soul that reads this, takes with them a profound message that will inspire them with they walk in life.

Jamati: Firstly welcome and thank you for allowing to share your life’s journey with the Jamati family?

CV: It’s a real honor and a pleasure to share my heart with you! Thank you for reaching out and for taking interest in my adventure.

Jamati: In brief please share some insights as to who Christine Vaindirlis is all about, cause there is a lot of mystery there ?

CV: Ha, ha! Yes, it’s a bit complicated. I was born in London but soon thereafter my parents moved back to South Africa where I grew up and went to school. I had always been very passionate about music and it had been my dream to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, at the time it seemed unobtainable, unaffordable, and with my parents being so nervous about me venturing to the US by myself to another dangerous city, it could have only stayed a dream. So I decided to go to Italy for a month to “study Italian”, where I auditioned and was awarded a full scholarship to study opera at the G.Verdi Conservatory in Milan. After a few years of study and having to work to pay rent, I came to grips with the fact that opera wasn’t really part of who I was. I started writing my own music whilst missing home terribly, longing for South Africa and it’s people, keeping traditional African music close for my comfort, took me closer to the place that I loved.

Performing and continuing to work in Milan until one day, the company I was working for decided to relocate and I found myself without a job, like an eaglet forced out of it’s nest, I had to fly. Still passionate about my dream, curiosity took me to the Berklee College website where I discovered that they were hosting a European Scholarship Audition and I decided to give it a shot and cutting a long story short, I was awarded the scholarship which together with an unexpected financial incentives from my former employer, brought me to the US and sparked the beginning of my dream. “Never give up hope”, things can happen when you least expect them to, it’s never too late to dream!

Jamati: Let’s talk about “Dance Mama your current album, what has been the inspiration behind it and what can fans expect from the album?

CV: “Dance Mama” is an energetic mix of funk, jazz and South African flavoured horn and vocal arrangements. It’s a mix of musical influences of the very same people of whom which I wanted to honor, who inspired my writing by tucking little tributes here and there, but it was one of those fruit of life’s lessons, there’s a little story behind each song. I wrote songs having specific musicians in mind knowing they would the songs come to life and by God’s grace I worked with Bakhiti Kumalo, whom i always wanted to work with.

For example, I wrote “Indaba” (meeting place), when I moved to New York- a place filled with a diversity and culture very much like South Africa. “Dance Mama” was was a fruit of the joy and peace I have in my heart from knowing that God is in complete control over my life. He’s always watching over me all the time, come rain or sunshine. I’m never afraid. This joy makes me want to dance to one of my favorite songs from home, “Pata-Pata”, rest in peace Mama Africa.



Jamati: Which string of artists influenced your globetrotting musical journey?

CV: Lol, that’s a long list be warned:), but definitely Mirriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, The Manhattan Brothers, Dorothy Masuka, Robbie Jansen, Abdullah Ibrahim, Paul Simon, Mahlatini and the Mohotella Queens, Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Johnny Clegg, The African Jazz Pioneers, Bakithi Khumalo, Tony Cedras, Richard Bona, Chaka Khan, Tower of Power and Hiromi. The list goes on and on!

Jamati: Being musically exposed like you have been, what major lessons have you learnt that have helped you in branding yourself and your artistry, especially in the US platforms.

CV: Actually, that’s what my song “Call to Freedom” is all about, being true and honest to oneself and not conforming to other people. Be the person you like, so what’s in your heart and what you do best because you’ll be the best at being you. I will never be Mary J. or Chaka as hard as I try ans much as I love them. Many artists aspire to be who they admire and there is nothing wrong with that, there is much to be learnt from such talent, but often they f - Jamati.com

Christine Vaindirlis Exclusive right here on the Jamati podium as she walks us through her globetrotting journey, from London to growing up in one of the hardest South African eras (apartheid), to dreaming her way out of South Africa into the beginning of her life inspiring journey.

If there is one thing I’ve learnt from doing this interview, it’s that “Giving up in life is never an option, everything is possible, we just gotta believe and keep on dreaming, speaking life to the world were everything is possible. Christine herself is a major inspiration and I hope that every soul that reads this, takes with them a profound message that will inspire them with they walk in life.

Jamati: Firstly welcome and thank you for allowing to share your life’s journey with the Jamati family?

CV: It’s a real honor and a pleasure to share my heart with you! Thank you for reaching out and for taking interest in my adventure.

Jamati: In brief please share some insights as to who Christine Vaindirlis is all about, cause there is a lot of mystery there ?

CV: Ha, ha! Yes, it’s a bit complicated. I was born in London but soon thereafter my parents moved back to South Africa where I grew up and went to school. I had always been very passionate about music and it had been my dream to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, at the time it seemed unobtainable, unaffordable, and with my parents being so nervous about me venturing to the US by myself to another dangerous city, it could have only stayed a dream. So I decided to go to Italy for a month to “study Italian”, where I auditioned and was awarded a full scholarship to study opera at the G.Verdi Conservatory in Milan. After a few years of study and having to work to pay rent, I came to grips with the fact that opera wasn’t really part of who I was. I started writing my own music whilst missing home terribly, longing for South Africa and it’s people, keeping traditional African music close for my comfort, took me closer to the place that I loved.

Performing and continuing to work in Milan until one day, the company I was working for decided to relocate and I found myself without a job, like an eaglet forced out of it’s nest, I had to fly. Still passionate about my dream, curiosity took me to the Berklee College website where I discovered that they were hosting a European Scholarship Audition and I decided to give it a shot and cutting a long story short, I was awarded the scholarship which together with an unexpected financial incentives from my former employer, brought me to the US and sparked the beginning of my dream. “Never give up hope”, things can happen when you least expect them to, it’s never too late to dream!

Jamati: Let’s talk about “Dance Mama your current album, what has been the inspiration behind it and what can fans expect from the album?

CV: “Dance Mama” is an energetic mix of funk, jazz and South African flavoured horn and vocal arrangements. It’s a mix of musical influences of the very same people of whom which I wanted to honor, who inspired my writing by tucking little tributes here and there, but it was one of those fruit of life’s lessons, there’s a little story behind each song. I wrote songs having specific musicians in mind knowing they would the songs come to life and by God’s grace I worked with Bakhiti Kumalo, whom i always wanted to work with.

For example, I wrote “Indaba” (meeting place), when I moved to New York- a place filled with a diversity and culture very much like South Africa. “Dance Mama” was was a fruit of the joy and peace I have in my heart from knowing that God is in complete control over my life. He’s always watching over me all the time, come rain or sunshine. I’m never afraid. This joy makes me want to dance to one of my favorite songs from home, “Pata-Pata”, rest in peace Mama Africa.



Jamati: Which string of artists influenced your globetrotting musical journey?

CV: Lol, that’s a long list be warned:), but definitely Mirriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, The Manhattan Brothers, Dorothy Masuka, Robbie Jansen, Abdullah Ibrahim, Paul Simon, Mahlatini and the Mohotella Queens, Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Johnny Clegg, The African Jazz Pioneers, Bakithi Khumalo, Tony Cedras, Richard Bona, Chaka Khan, Tower of Power and Hiromi. The list goes on and on!

Jamati: Being musically exposed like you have been, what major lessons have you learnt that have helped you in branding yourself and your artistry, especially in the US platforms.

CV: Actually, that’s what my song “Call to Freedom” is all about, being true and honest to oneself and not conforming to other people. Be the person you like, so what’s in your heart and what you do best because you’ll be the best at being you. I will never be Mary J. or Chaka as hard as I try ans much as I love them. Many artists aspire to be who they admire and there is nothing wrong with that, there is much to be learnt from such talent, but often they f - Jamati.com

Born in London, raised in Johannesburg, trained in Milan under La Scala supervision and in Boston at Berklee, singer, composer and arranger Christine Vaindirlis is more than a mere globetrotter; she is the world. Yet wherever her free-spirited journey has taken her, she’s always yearned for home: Africa!

Vaindirlis lets her global chops and love for her South African homeland shine on her vivacious debut, Dance Mama! (Ubuntu World Music; November 3, 2009), a shout out to South African jazz greats, as well as to an eclectic mix of R&B and funk icons from Chaka Khan to Tower of Power, all filtered through Vaindirlis’s unique worldly perspective as a classically trained opera singer, former English teacher, audio gear specialist, and corporate executive.

“My inspiration for the album was the concept of ubuntu: helpfulness, caring, trust, unselfishness, what one can do to improve the community, as well as oneself as an individual,” Vaindirlis explains. “‘This is my Place’ is a song of encouragement for the people of South Africa to work as one nation. There is so much ethnic diversity, and the whole blend is such an extraordinary fusion when everyone brings something to the table. I’m calling for us to embrace a new day, to work together for a wave of change and make South Africa, our home, an example”.

Vaindirlis’s faith, along with her deep love of her homeland and its art, shapes her life and music. Title track “Dance Mama!” is a high-energy tribute to the late, great Miriam Makeba and “Pata-Pata,” her hit song. “‘Pata-Pata’ always makes me want to dance,” Vaindirlis smiles. “If I wake up some time in the middle of the night and feel like crying, I know that someone up there is always watching over me and that I'm never alone. Faith is something very personal that one can only experience for themselves. Because of this joy I can dance, and do the pata-pata! It reminds me of home and brings back good memories.”

She tucked little tributes into her complex arrangements: a flugelhorn solo honoring Hugh Masekela, a piano nod to Abdullah Ibrahim, background vocals reminiscent of the Mahotella Queens, horns alluding to Robbie Jansen and the African Jazz Pioneers. She created the design for the album artwork after long days of arranging, inspired by images and colors from Zulu beadwork and colorful geometric paintings on Ndebele houses.

“South African people are very creative, and nature is so beautiful back home. Colors are intense and vibrant: The blues are a deep blue, the greens are a particular shade, the sun shines most of the time and dramatic storms last less than an hour before clear skies reappear,” Vaindirlis laughs. “That’s the way South African music is as well—vibrant and powerful.”

She longed to produce an album that captured this joy, energy, and power and knew that the right South African musicians, along with innovators like up-and-coming jazz pianist Hiromi and fiery Screaming Headless Torsos percussionist Daniel Sadownick, would bring her vision together. She tapped artists like accordion player Tony Cedras and bassist Bakithi Kumalo, both of whom gained worldwide acclaim for their work with Paul Simon on Graceland.

Vaindirlis grew up listening to South African jazz on the radio and enjoying the traditional singing and dancing on the street at any given day in downtown Johannesburg. Yet one major touchstone for Vaindirlis was and remains her first favorite album as a child, Ipi Ntombi, a hit musical rich in traditional African singing, dancing, and powerful drumming. It tells the tale of a young Zulu tribesman who leaves his rural village for Egoli (Johannesburg), the city of gold, in search of better prospects. There he is confronted with the realities of urban life and in his growing disillusionment, wonders, “Is this my place?”

Vaindirlis shared a similar fate, venturing into new worlds and far from home, and the music and the questions of Ipi Ntombi accompanied her throughout her travels. “At each stop—Italy, Cyprus, Boston, and now New York—I’ve asked myself, ‘Is this my place?’” Yet palpable joy and ubuntu of Dance Mama! has taken Vaindrilis far beyond questions of belonging and geography. “People can never figure out where I'm from because they can’t identify my ‘look”’ with a particular race. That’s fantastic because I don’t like being put in a box,” Vaindirlis muses. “If the spirit of ubuntu is there, that’s all that matters.”

Though the headstrong Vaindirlis longed to go to the Berklee College of Music, her parents were nervous about their young daughter setting off alone for the U.S. “You know, they were worried about all the things they’d hear on the news, about all the violence, which was really not all that different from Johannesburg,” Vaindrilis recalls. So after a brief stop on Cyprus to finish off the last years of high school, she hatched a plan: Vaindirlis headed to Milan, ostensibly to study Italian, while the real goal was to audition for the h - Flipswitch PR

Born in London, raised in Johannesburg, trained in Milan under La Scala supervision and in Boston at Berklee, singer, composer and arranger Christine Vaindirlis is more than a mere globetrotter; she is the world. Yet wherever her free-spirited journey has taken her, she’s always yearned for home: Africa!

Vaindirlis lets her global chops and love for her South African homeland shine on her vivacious debut, Dance Mama! (Ubuntu World Music; November 3, 2009), a shout out to South African jazz greats, as well as to an eclectic mix of R&B and funk icons from Chaka Khan to Tower of Power, all filtered through Vaindirlis’s unique worldly perspective as a classically trained opera singer, former English teacher, audio gear specialist, and corporate executive.

“My inspiration for the album was the concept of ubuntu: helpfulness, caring, trust, unselfishness, what one can do to improve the community, as well as oneself as an individual,” Vaindirlis explains. “‘This is my Place’ is a song of encouragement for the people of South Africa to work as one nation. There is so much ethnic diversity, and the whole blend is such an extraordinary fusion when everyone brings something to the table. I’m calling for us to embrace a new day, to work together for a wave of change and make South Africa, our home, an example”.

Vaindirlis’s faith, along with her deep love of her homeland and its art, shapes her life and music. Title track “Dance Mama!” is a high-energy tribute to the late, great Miriam Makeba and “Pata-Pata,” her hit song. “‘Pata-Pata’ always makes me want to dance,” Vaindirlis smiles. “If I wake up some time in the middle of the night and feel like crying, I know that someone up there is always watching over me and that I'm never alone. Faith is something very personal that one can only experience for themselves. Because of this joy I can dance, and do the pata-pata! It reminds me of home and brings back good memories.”

She tucked little tributes into her complex arrangements: a flugelhorn solo honoring Hugh Masekela, a piano nod to Abdullah Ibrahim, background vocals reminiscent of the Mahotella Queens, horns alluding to Robbie Jansen and the African Jazz Pioneers. She created the design for the album artwork after long days of arranging, inspired by images and colors from Zulu beadwork and colorful geometric paintings on Ndebele houses.

“South African people are very creative, and nature is so beautiful back home. Colors are intense and vibrant: The blues are a deep blue, the greens are a particular shade, the sun shines most of the time and dramatic storms last less than an hour before clear skies reappear,” Vaindirlis laughs. “That’s the way South African music is as well—vibrant and powerful.”

She longed to produce an album that captured this joy, energy, and power and knew that the right South African musicians, along with innovators like up-and-coming jazz pianist Hiromi and fiery Screaming Headless Torsos percussionist Daniel Sadownick, would bring her vision together. She tapped artists like accordion player Tony Cedras and bassist Bakithi Kumalo, both of whom gained worldwide acclaim for their work with Paul Simon on Graceland.

Vaindirlis grew up listening to South African jazz on the radio and enjoying the traditional singing and dancing on the street at any given day in downtown Johannesburg. Yet one major touchstone for Vaindirlis was and remains her first favorite album as a child, Ipi Ntombi, a hit musical rich in traditional African singing, dancing, and powerful drumming. It tells the tale of a young Zulu tribesman who leaves his rural village for Egoli (Johannesburg), the city of gold, in search of better prospects. There he is confronted with the realities of urban life and in his growing disillusionment, wonders, “Is this my place?”

Vaindirlis shared a similar fate, venturing into new worlds and far from home, and the music and the questions of Ipi Ntombi accompanied her throughout her travels. “At each stop—Italy, Cyprus, Boston, and now New York—I’ve asked myself, ‘Is this my place?’” Yet palpable joy and ubuntu of Dance Mama! has taken Vaindrilis far beyond questions of belonging and geography. “People can never figure out where I'm from because they can’t identify my ‘look”’ with a particular race. That’s fantastic because I don’t like being put in a box,” Vaindirlis muses. “If the spirit of ubuntu is there, that’s all that matters.”

Though the headstrong Vaindirlis longed to go to the Berklee College of Music, her parents were nervous about their young daughter setting off alone for the U.S. “You know, they were worried about all the things they’d hear on the news, about all the violence, which was really not all that different from Johannesburg,” Vaindrilis recalls. So after a brief stop on Cyprus to finish off the last years of high school, she hatched a plan: Vaindirlis headed to Milan, ostensibly to study Italian, while the real goal was to audition for the h - Flipswitch PR

“It is our advisory opinion that the evidence presented clearly establishes that Christine Vaindirlis is a musician / performer of extraordinary ability, which has been demonstrated by sustained international acclaim.” - Quote

“It is our advisory opinion that the evidence presented clearly establishes that Christine Vaindirlis is a musician / performer of extraordinary ability, which has been demonstrated by sustained international acclaim.” - Quote