Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa (first name pronounced ʃi.ŋɡɑːɪ) born in 1981 is an English singer of Zimbabwean descent and best known as the vocalist and bassist for the UK indie rock band Noisettes. Her first name, Shingai (Shin-GUY) means ‘persevere’ in the Zimbabwean Shona language.
Shoniwa grew up to a single mother from Zimbabwe in a South London public-housing estate. The experience, Shoniwa says, absolutely informs her music. “Wanting to...
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Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa (first name pronounced ʃi.ŋɡɑːɪ) born in 1981 is an English singer of Zimbabwean descent and best known as the vocalist and bassist for the UK indie rock band Noisettes. Her first name, Shingai (Shin-GUY) means ‘persevere’ in the Zimbabwean Shona language.
Shoniwa grew up to a single mother from Zimbabwe in a South London public-housing estate. The experience, Shoniwa says, absolutely informs her music. “Wanting to escape from reality can inspire the greatest and most trivial creative natures in people,” and “I think escapism is something that connects all of us. Everybody has their own little soundtrack, and I guess I’m trying to make my own soundtrack to my escape plan. I want people to realize that there’s so much more.”
She first wanted to be an actress, and for a while joined the Lost Vagueness crew as a burlesque performer. She studied circus skills at a London youth club as a teenager. When she graduated, she attended art school and dabble in...
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