DURBAN’s Welile Gumede, popularly known as Artchild “The African Rockstar,” has joined the DYR team, to give herself another platform to address the youth.
DYR, formerly known as Durban Youth Radio, is proudly Durban and is active in developing and nurturing young talent, something that is just up Artchild’s street!
Not only is she a young artist and choreographer, but she is very involved in reaching out to the youth through initiatives and projects she drives in the community. Born in KwaMashu, the 27-year-old said she fell in love with music at a very young age.
“I used to sing in the shower, and loved the sound of my own voice! I would watch music videos on TV and imitate them. When I was in high school I was part of the school choir and my love for singing and art, especially painting, grew. After school I started dancing and I landed up choreographing for a few well-known brands, singing live for a band where we would perform for young people and working at the Bat Centre showcasing poets, rappers, singers and dancers,” she said.
Artchild also studied further, obtaining a degree in Psychology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and further obtained an honours in Industrial Psychology.
While at university, she established her company Artdiqted Entertainment and Arts. Her qualification has enabled her to work with people in the industry, and she has utilised her dance skill set to introduce herself to the music industry by choreographing and appearing on numerous music videos both nationally and internationally.
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She has choreographed for the successful Afrotainment stable and has been featured on numerous Gqom and dance documentaries across the country.
She also has the famous Mtvbase Gqom Nation season 1 and season 2 in the bag as the choreographer and coordinator.
Artchild has kept her dreams of being a musician alive and after spending sleepless nights in studio learning from the best in the industry, released her debut single titled Bhenga featuring Rudeboyz, followed by her debut EP Soundbath.
“I was approached by Rudeboyz to feature on a track, my first single Bhenga. I was invited to perform the track in Cape Town on Afternoon Express on SABC 3. I have also had the opportunity to work with Rudimental and choreograph a video for Major Lazer,” she said.
She said the highlight of her career was a nomination for Gagasi FM’s Shero Awards, where she won in the entertainment and music category in August.
She was also nominated best upcoming artist at the SA live Your Dream Awards. She also recently choreographed a dance at the opening Durban Business Fair gala dinner, which was highly commended by guests.
Artchild has also been involved in community outreach programmes involving uplifting youth art. These programs are usually in the form of art shows that are created to provide young upcoming and unknown young artists with a platform to showcase their talent.
She is currently running a competition to showcase young dancers, the Gqom Kings of Dance. The finale will be at Club 101, in Pine Street near the Durban ICC, on Friday, 25 October from 8pm to 11pm. Visit Artdiqted Entertainment & Arts Co. on Facebook.
“I love working on DYR as it fits in with my vision. I work on the breakfast show with Kevin Minter-Brown during the week and this gives me the opportunity to speak into the lives of the youth who listen to DYR. I have also got the chance to get my music played on air!” she said.
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