In Conversation with: Virgo

Virgo is a 21-year-old South African RnB & soul singer/songwriter and performer from Mpumalanga (Witbank).

Where did your name come from?

Choosing my name is a very funny story, I changed my name several times from Priscilla, Prii, Lala and Asia to Virgo, which is my star sign. I chose the name because I felt like it was the best way to describe my character also keeping in mind that the music, I make is all from a Virgos perspective for example the way we feel things and the way we handle things.

When did you realise you wanted to be a singer and what was the first song you ever sang?

Singing was never my first career choice; I’ve always wanted to be a chef because I personally felt like singing is not going to pay the bills. Therefore, I needed something with a guaranteed income, but my family and friends kept on pushing me to pursue music which I finally did a year ago. I realised I could sing and people liked the way I sing in an Arts & Culture class when I was in grade 5 and we were made to show our talents to the class. I decided to sing “We are the world” by U.S.A for Africa and everyone in the class stopped everything they were doing and listened to me.

How would you describe your style of music?

I would say my style of music is more of a soulful vibe, the type of music you listen to and can relate to on so many levels.

What’s your process when choosing a song to cover?

My covers are usually chosen when I’m just randomly singing in the shower and I like how a certain song sounds with my voice. Then I let my manager know about it and he finds the instrumental and we record it.

What inspired your latest track, Love You Like That?

Love You Like That, was written a few days after I had a conversation with a certain someone 🙈 about relationships and how one’s perspective on love can change because of someone else’s mistakes. I wrote Love You Like That as a response to that conversation basically saying, “I’m willing to love you beyond your scars, beyond your hurt so let me in and let me love you like that”.

When can we expect more music from you?

I am currently working on a project which if everything goes as planned should be dropped either end of this year or early next year but within that period, I will be releasing more singles.

Which artists would you like to work with in the future?

If we’re talking local, I would love to work with Nasty C, Elaine and Rowlene then internationally it would be Jhene Aiko at the top of the list H.E.R and Drake.

What do you want people to get from listening to your music?

Music has a huge impact on my life, and it has really kept me from giving up and helped me in just getting through things in general. When I was younger, I created a playlist that I would listen to every morning on my way to school. That would get me through my day and forget about everything negative that was going on in my life and that’s my aim with my music. I want people to listen to my music and FEEL it, I want my music to give people the same motivation that playlist gave me.

Who inspires you the most in life?

I wouldn’t say anyone specific inspires me but instead my inspiration is drawn from life in general and everyone around me in my daily life, I’m always learning new things from everyone I cross paths with.

What’s the vision for your brand in the next 5 years?

In the next 5 years I see myself performing on cruise ships and being where I want to be in my music career, and I have everyone who supports me by my side.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

The best advice I’ve ever been given was by my late grandfather in the last conversation we had about my career choice. I was still contemplating whether or not this is what I want to do with my life and he said to me, “no one but you is able to decide what makes you happy and once you go after something that makes you happy, you do it 10 times better and you do that effortlessly, the second you listen to everyone else’s opinion about YOUR life then you’re not living YOUR life anymore”.

What’s the soundtrack to your life?

The soundtrack to my life would be Ascension by Jhene Aiko and Brandy.

What are you doing to keep yourself busy during the lockdown?

The lockdown has given me more time to put more work into my project which I’ve been doing, and I’ve understood myself more in terms of what I want out of life and how I plan on reaching all my goals. I’ve also been taking on new activities for example I’m learning how to dance I’ve also been reading a lot and exercising.

How would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered for my Truths and Rawness I want someone to say, “Her music helped me get through a tough time in my life”.

Social media

Instagram @dareal.virgo

Twitter @virgodareal

Facebook @Priscilla Pretorius