Toya Delazy reveals new music videos (Watch)

Toya Delazy has released striking music videos for her two new singles that highlight her evolving musical direction.

The inspirational tracks, No Follow and Diamonds In The Rough, were first unveiled a few weeks ago in honour of Youth Month.

The SAMA-winning Delazy is now an independent artist based in London. Her new music reflects the changes in her life and highlights the importance of resilience, strength and determination.

“No Follow is about following your intuition and allowing the desires of your soul to have chief control over the course of your life. When you move with your soul, you embrace your destiny,” says Delazy.

“I took a leap of faith and left my home in Cape Town in June 2015. I left my family, friends and fans to begin all over again in London. My soul wanted this and if I didn’t do it I wouldn’t be as fulfilled as I am today.”

With no defined genre, Delazy describes the sound of No Follow as “future bass mixed with rap and a touch of soul.” The video starts with the star tied up and tortured by masked assailants that force feed her alcohol and drugs before she breaks free from the ropes that bind her.

“Visually I wanted to encourage fans to break free from society’s expectations and views. Don’t let others project their restrictions and fears on you,” she says.

Delazy has also launched the video for Diamonds In The Rough; an equally cinematic experience, with Toya dancing in a dingy London bar.

“Dancing is like another language for me. I’ve performed live for over four years with the finest dancers in South Africa and it’s always been a huge part of my live shows,” she explains. “It grew in me, and I found the freedom to express my emotions through dancing.”

Delazy, one of a few openly gay or lesbian African musicians, says that the song is about young people living in the city: “We’re talented and we bond with each other. Our soul dream is to make it, but somehow society doesn’t make it easy for us to be ourselves and still succeed. Therefore we are diamonds in the rough. It’s to encourage us not to let go, and to never give up.”

Watch the videos for No Follow and Diamonds In The Rough below.