Based: Johannesburg
Artist and self taught Cameroonian musician Della Tamin, lends an exciting new flavour to the music industry with the richness of his songs, unique style and resonant voice.
Composing & singing in French, English and his home language Medumba, Della’s inspiration for his songs often comes to him through his ancestors in his dreams.
His music is influenced by the rhythmic patterns of the Yaounde region in Cameroon, however his admiration of French chansons comes out in his romantic & sometimes quite dramatic song writing.
A member of the Cameroonian youth student band “LES SANS FRONTIERES” Della came to South Africa in 2004 looking for opportunities in the music industry and was fortunate to be ‘discovered’ by Robert Trunz from MELT 2000, whilst he (Della) was recording with the band LAP (Live African Percussion) on Robert’s farm in Cullinan. Robert introduced Della to many artists and musicians such as Lianne Cox, the late Moses Khumalo, Mabi Thobejane, Pops Mohamed, & Chris Lewis amongst others, all who have had a positive influence on him and his South African musical career.
Della Tamin & Friends have performed live at many of South Africa’s musical hotspots such as Bassline, The Market Theatre, Sun City, Soweto (Mofolo Superbowl), Shivava, Robbies Place and moyo Melrose Arch & Zoo Lake, performing at the latter venue on a regular basis. Musical highlights include sharing the stage during the 2012 Africa Day celebrations with Dorothy Masuka & Ringo (Sanaa Africa Festival), a collaborative performance with the late Chiwoniso Maraire in July 2012 and 2013 Africa day celebrations at Bassline in Newtown with a line-up that introduced Della along with Lira & Thandiswa Mazwai. 2014 saw Della tour to Swaziland & Lesotho with his band for the Francophone Festival held in March as well as joining Wouter Kellerman’s band as a vocalist for Wouter’s Grammy award winning Winds Of Samsara tour to the Grammy Museum & Carnegie Hall in the USA, the Woodford Folk Festival in Australia and most recently in Oct 2015 touring with Wouter for a second Carnegie Hall performance as well as joining him at the Jodhpur RIFF festival in India. In Sept 2015 Della joined forces with the likes of Gloria Bosman, Nianell, Kunle Ayo, Concord Nkibande, Tim Moloi and Monde Msutwana at EOH’s annual spring ball in a musical performance extravaganza..
Della recorded his debut album Afro-Salsa at Digi-Huts & Moya Sound with the extraordinary support & supervision of Themba Mkhize. Released to much acclaim, Afro-Salsa takes one on a multi-layered musical journey through Della’s life & dreams. He is currently in the process of recording his second album; a collaborative effort with artists he has met in the past few years from both SA and abroad such as Vin Downes, Neddi Smith and Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez.
Della’s most recent album recordings include contributions to ‘Arise Above Abuse – Artists Speak Out For Woman’, spoken word CD as well as to Wouter Kellermans latest album ‘Love Language’.
Della performs as a solo musician as well as with his “friends” as either a duet, trio, quartet or full band. His “friends” base of musicians include the talented young Ameashi Ikechi from Nigeria on bass guitar, Senegalese percussionist El Hadji, South African Khumo Kganyago or Congolese Alex Odiekila on lead guitar, South African key-boardist Lloyd Mbele and South African Bernice Boikanyo or Nigerian Sam Ibeh on drums. Guest artists have included the likes of Kunle Ayo and Jolanta Durno.
Furthering his dreams of designing and creating his own brand of musical instruments, Della joined the University of Johannesburg as a full time student doing Electrical and Electronic Engineering, graduating in 2010. He further completed his masters degree in 2014 and is currently working on a PHD.
Della is extremely aware of his roots and his good fortune in his acceptance within South African society. In a few words his sums up his acknowledgement of the support and welcome he has received from South Africans…..
“I am very thankful for the whole of South Africa for believing in me, for accepting me and giving me the opportunity to prove my talent and to fly higher”.
