Melodious local singer, Haylea Heyns, sparkles on international stage

Haylea Heyns is a singer-songwriter born and bred in Durban; she has opened for large events with her angelic voice, including the Springboks vs Georgia rugby game the previous Friday, July 2 2021. Keri was blown away by the belter's soothing sound and stellar opening; so much that she invited her on Keri's Couch. 

In music, we know the journey usually begins right before the sparkles shine brighter and the spotlight follows you. The same can be  said about Haylea's journey in music, as well. She started singing when she was a little girl and there are archives from then until the present proving her interest. She admits it took a little more courage to finally make singing a career. 

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The soft-spoken lady is from the little town of Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal. Whilst she might have studied copywriting in Johannesburg, her burning passion for music refuses to be a 'hobby'. This is how she has managed to secure gigs dating back to 2018 when she sang the British National Anthem, 'God Save The Queen', at a rugby game. 

This particular gig was special because it was done at home and during a time when the country was in lockdown. She would be the glue bringing everyone together with the nation's anthem as we sit in our different locations in the country. 

So she shares with Keri how she managed to get this gig: 

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So as much as there was no stadium audience at the game, Haylea had to show up and show off in terms of her wardrobe. The audience was now larger, as we are all forced to watch from our television or (thanks to technology) our phones. She shares that it was quite the journey trying to find this dazzling dress: 

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Most people are not ashamed to admit that there are parts of the national anthem they are just unsure of, Keri Miller is one of those people.

Haylea, on the other hand, had been confident about her lyrics and pronunciation until she was afforded a dialect coach as part of her performance prep. Fortunately, she was able to polish those little sounds she needed to work on before her stellar performance.

She also shares the common mistakes made in the South African anthem: 

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We can never deny the magic of music - it is simply indescribable. Can you imagine, even before a sports game, something which is a polar opposite activity, music still makes an appearance to soothe your nerves or unite a country in song. 

We applaud Haylea for the stages she's stepped on because of music and hope that she continues to soar in her music career. 

Haylea has currently relocated to Cape Town with her family. If you happen to want to book her again in Durban, you will have to book the flight as well. Otherwise feel free to book her anywhere in the world. 

Here's a backstage pass for you to see all of her moments from the game: 

Watch Haylea's magical performance of our South African National Anthem at Loftus Versfeld: 

Main Image Courtesy: Supplied