Lloyiso, born Loyiso Gijana on 8 March 1999 in Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa, is a soulful singer-songwriter and performer who discovered his passion for music as a child and began nurturing it seriously from the age of 12, performing at community events and entering Idols South Africa (season 11) in 2015, where his emotive voice and stage presence quickly drew national attention and helped lay the foundation for his career. After Idols SA, he briefly attended university but soon left to focus entirely on music, performing wherever he could and building an online presence with covers that resonated globally, eventually garnering millions of views on social platforms and catching the attention of industry executives which led to a recording deal with Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2018 and later, in 2021, a historic contract with Universal Music Group South Africa and Republic Records, making him the first South African artist signed to the renowned U.S. label and propelling him into the international music scene. Lloyiso has since embarked on headline tours, collaborated with global artists and continued to build his fan base while also sharing aspects of his personal transformation including a dedicated fitness journey and reflections on mental health as part of his artistic evolution. On the personal side, Lloyiso keeps much of his private life out of the spotlight, is currently single with no public record of a soulmate or children, and chooses to focus on his craft and personal growth rather than celebrity romance, maintaining a relatively low-profile personal life and expressing his innermost thoughts through music and candid reflections shared with fans.
Four: Nontsikelelo
“Nontsikelelo,” released on 17 August 2018 as Lloyiso’s first official single under Ambitiouz Entertainment, is a soulful R&B ballad written by Lloyiso and produced in collaboration with Vuyo Manyike and Mfanafuthi Ruff Nkosi, that blends expressive Xhosa phrasing with English to express longing, regret and a plea for reconciliation with a past love, painting a vivid picture of vulnerability and sincere devotion that resonates with listeners through its candid storytelling and expressive vocal performance. It has garnered over 7.4M views on its official music video on YouTube. The music video, released in February 2019 and directed by Shae, visualizes the narrative with actors portraying the emotional ups and downs of reconciliation was eagerly anticipated by fans and earned millions of views on visual platforms, helping to elevate Lloyiso’s profile beyond his earlier Idols South Africa exposure and showcasing his ability to craft music that touches on universal themes of love, loss and hope, with its warm reception marking an important milestone early in his artistic journey and laying the foundation for the emotional depth he continues to bring to his later works.
FYI
- While Lloyiso’s career has largely been defined by his talent and breakthroughs, he has also been involved in a few public controversies, most notably a much-talked-about incident at the Lemo Festival in 2024 where, frustrated by what he perceived as poor treatment by event organizers, he walked off stage mid-performance and expressed his displeasure publicly before later issuing an apology to fans, fellow performers and organizers once the issue was resolved, generating mixed reactions and discussion about professionalism and artist advocacy.
Three:Dream About You
“Dream About You,” released on 30 April 2021 by South African singer-songwriter Lloyiso under Ambitiouz Entertainment, is a tender Afro-pop love ballad written and produced by Lloyiso himself that opens with a delicate melodic arrangement and smooth expressive vocals that immediately set an intimate mood. It tells the story of an emotional dream in which the narrator sees the person he desires most dressed in white and captivated by their smile, expressing overwhelming affection and devotion through heartfelt lyrics that blend English with heartfelt expressions from his cultural roots. It has garnered 20.8M streams on Spotify and over 23M views on its official audio on YouTube. The song’s simple yet polished production allows his voice and the narrative to take centre stage, conveying themes of longing, commitment and emotional honesty as he promises unwavering dedication and encourages the listener to listen to their heart above outside doubts, all of which resonates deeply with fans and has helped the track become one of his most recognised songs, gathering millions of streams on major music platforms and solidifying Lloyiso’s reputation as a vocalist and storyteller capable of crafting songs that connect with listeners’ feelings and relationships.
Two: Scary
“Scary,” released on 25 September 2025 and currently Lloyiso’s most recent single, is a deeply vulnerable and introspective soulful-pop song that serves as the lead track from his EP Never Thought I Could and reflects a mature evolution in his songwriting as he confronts love, timing and emotional readiness. It has garnered over 2.3M streams on Spotify and over 2M views on its official music video on YouTube. Inspired by his own experience of a relationship where conflicting seasons of life prevented love from flourishing, the song blends expressive lyrical storytelling with rich, cinematic production and soaring vocals to depict the fear of opening one’s heart only to realise that personal growth must come before fully giving to another — themes he describes as an honest admission of his own emotional unpreparedness and a symbolic farewell to his old self and old ways, representing both heartbreak and personal awakening. Scary was written and co-produced by Lloyiso alongside collaborators including Paul Shelton and Ethan Shneiderman, and it is paired with an official music video that visually amplifies its emotional weight through intimate visuals and cinematic framing, further inviting listeners into the narrative of letting go, self-reflection and the courage to heal; this release has been embraced by fans for its authentic emotional resonance and for showcasing a bold, introspective side of Lloyiso’s artistry, marking an important moment as he continues to expand his musical identity and connect with audiences on themes of love, vulnerability and personal transformation.
Awards/Nominations
- Lloyiso first rose to prominence as a Top 5 finalist on Idols South Africa (Season 11) in 2015, which launched his professional music career.
- In 2021, he made history by signing with Universal Music Group South Africa and Republic Records, becoming the first South African artist signed to the U.S.-based label Republic Records.
- In 2022, his single “Speak” earned two nominations at the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) for Songwriter of the Year and Most Promising Artiste.
- In 2023, his debut EP Seasons received multi-platinum certification in South Africa and earned three nominations at the 29th South African Music Awards, where he won Best Pop Album — marking his first major SAMA win and solidifying his standing in the industry.
Discography
- Seasons (2023)
- Never Thought I Could (2026)
One: Seasons
“Seasons,” released as the title track from Lloyiso’s debut EP Seasons on 31 March 2023 under Universal Music Group South Africa / Republic Records, is an emotionally powerful and introspective song written by Lloyiso with Luke Goliath that blends soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics to explore the pain of heartbreak, personal growth and the changing phases of love and life. Garnering over 32.2M streams on Spotify and over 17M views on its official music video on YouTube, the track served as the lead single from his breakthrough EP project and quickly became his most successful song to date. It accumulated tens of millions of streams on major music platforms and earning widespread attention as a standout performance from the project, helping to define his artistry and solidify his reputation for emotive songwriting and expressive vocal delivery, while also anchoring the critical acclaim that led Seasons to win Best Pop Album at the South African Music Awards and elevating his profile beyond his early music career beginnings on Idols South Africa as fans and industry figures alike praised the song’s raw honesty and emotional resonance.