Tina Schouw

Artist Extraordinaire

©Eric Miller
©Eric Miller

Nothing soothes the soul quite like the lyrical sounds of South African singer and artist Tina Schouw. The beautiful combination of jazz, folk and Latin makes for a unique sound that’s easy to listen to. Schouw is a distinguished musician and songwriter who produces music with healing and spiritual awakening in mind.

Schouw has been actively involved in the music industry since the 1980’s. From the get-go, she established herself as an eclectic musician with a distinctive sound. In 1987, she was invited by anti-apartheid movements to perform abroad in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Sweden. She has also left her mark on SA’s musical theater.

In the 1990’s, she performed in various musical theater productions around the country, playing lead roles in productions like Jesus Christ Superstar and The King and I. After the transition from apartheid to democracy in 1994, Schouw’s songwriting took a personal turn as she focused on themes such as life, love and humanity.

In 1996, she started producing her own shows with original material that she performed at venues including the Artscape in Cape Town, PACT in Pretoria, the Playhouse Theatre in Durban and the Market Theater in Johannesburg. In the early 2000’s, Schouw wrote and recorded a medley of songs that were featured on local television shows and movies.

Her debut album ‘BLEED’ was released in 2000, and 11 of the 12 songs were written, composed and performed by Schouw. In 2008 she performed alongside South African artists Freshlyground and Amanda Strydom at the Royale Theater Carre in Amsterdam. Schouw is a woman of many talents: not only does she sing, create her own compositions and act, but she is also a notable author and has published three children’s books.

She continues to perform at festivals and events across the country. Her spiritual outlook on life has allowed her to create elegant, unique art that has diversified the creative industry in South Africa.

By Carla Lottering