NGCOBO— From the small town of Ngcobo to the bright lights of Johannesburg and now making waves nationwide a 25 year old Phelokazi Mdashe, known by her stage name Leepearl is the Eastern Cape’s latest musical sensation poised to take the South African music scene by storm.
Born in Ngcobo and raised in Johannesburg, Leepearl’s journey began at a young age rooted in the soulful world of opera music. “I started making music at a very young age as a primary opera musician,” she recalls.
That early start sparked a lifelong passion that has since evolved into a unique and powerful blend of amapiano and gqom genres now synonymous with her rising fame. Her move to Johannesburg marked a key turning point in her musical path. There, she honed her signature sound, inspired by local legends like DJ Ting and the iconic Lebo Mathosa.
“Their music helped shape my piano-driven style,” she says. Since 2022 Leepearl has been steadily building an online presence, releasing her music across major platforms such as Shazam, Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music and YouTube. Her sound quickly gained traction, drawing listeners from all corners of the country.
One of her proudest moments came when her music crossed international borders her song was featured in the Netflix movie Collision.
Furthermore Leepearl had this to say, “My biggest milestone ever since I started making music was when my song got played in a Netflix movie. I got exposure with South African well-known celebrities and even Hollywood stars,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Leepearl is not slowing down. She’s preparing to release a 5-track EP next month to coincide with her birthday a personal celebration of how far she’s come.
She’s also setting her sights on exciting collaborations, revealing plans to work with fellow artists from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal to bring even more regional flavors into her music.
With strong roots in East London, an ever-growing digital fanbase and a fearless approach to genre fusion, Phelokazi Mdashe is carving out her space in South Africa’s vibrant music industry. And by all accounts, this is just the beginning.
Photographs: supplied
