THE FUSE

Palesa Nomthandazo Phumelele Modiga, professionally known as Zoë Modiga, is a South African singer and songwriter known for her soulful voice and deeply expressive music. The award-winning artist is set to perform on 1 May 2026 at the breathtaking Swartberg Pass as part of the renowned Journey to Jazz.

Modiga’s performance forms part of the festival’s signature site-specific programme, where music connects with the natural environment in a way that goes beyond a traditional concert experience. The performance has been specially created for this unique setting and will showcase the full breadth of her vocal range and artistic expression. Audiences can expect a deeply immersive experience where sound and nature come together, creating a powerful dialogue between music and the surrounding mountain landscape.

Speaking to OKMzansi Magazine, Modiga opened up about her upcoming performance and what the festival means to her.

1. What does performing at Journey to Jazz 2026 mean to you, particularly in such a unique and intimate setting as the Swartberg Pass?

Performing at this year’s Journey to Jazz is a great honour. We have a picturesque, scenic setting to some deeply moving music to look forward to and to express. For us, it’ll be a moment to look inward and quiet the noise of being alive in our set. We surrender to the intimacy, the vulnerability and the beauty we are being called to.

2. How did you approach crafting a site-specific performance that responds to the natural landscape of the Swartberg Mountains?

We seek to be in harmony with the natural landscapes. Nature has greater wisdom than we do and ours is to give in to that, with the sensitivity and delicacy it deserves.

3. Your music often explores themes of identity and heritage – how do you plan to translate those themes into this acoustic, sunset performance?

We honour our musical themes and motifs and see this special set as a way to continue in that vein. We honour identity, culture, language, being, spirit, creation with the sunset as our backdrop.

4. Can you tell us more about the emotional and sonic experience audiences can expect from this Swartberg Pass set compared to your traditional stage performances?

Audiences can expect a hearty sharing of our entire 4 album discography being shared in a way they don’t often get to see and experience. It is a special one for us to immerse ourselves into and we know it’ll be a magical memory making for us and the music lovers.

5. Your albums Yellow: The Novel and Inganekwane have been widely acclaimed – how have these projects influenced the direction of your live performances in recent years?

I believe I am on assignment with each project I have had the honour to release. Whether an audience of 1 or a million, we always seek to expression the reverence of being alive, collective healing and world building with our sets. Yellow: The Novel, Inganekwane, Nomthandazo and now The Vault, have been retrying and exhilarating to share. We listen, we sing, go move our bodies, we cry, we heal, we enjoy this enduring journey of living in our sets.

6. What does it mean for you to be part of a festival like Journey to Jazz that emphasises music as “conversation rather than spectacle”?

I feel seen being a part of this, I think it’s a powerful reframing. I think there is something to be said about the idea of performance, entertainment and spectacle in our craft. In some ways, it has its place because people need this too. I prefer to embody the music and allow it to be emoted in the voice, instrument and moment making. The music is created from a quieter, introspective, listening place and any opportunity to share from that is beautiful.

7. The festival places strong importance on community impact – how important is it for you to be involved in initiatives that extend beyond music?

To me, music is just an extension of collective upliftment, world building and social impact.

8. What excites you most about performing in a setting where nature becomes part of the musical dialogue?

It makes me feel connected. It’s our origin story. It’s our true home.

9. The programme also features a world premiere by Kyle Shepherd – how do you see moments like these shaping the future of South African jazz?

My big brother, Kyle Shepherd has always been an innovate figure in South African jazz, I have a huge respect for his impact. I think the same can be said for all the musician on the line up. We are building our local musical and cultural landscape in real time and it deserves the world stage.

10. For audiences who have never experienced Journey to Jazz before, what would you say makes this festival – and particularly the Swartberg Pass performance – truly special?

Music in collaboration with nature sounds like both, an out of body and inner world experience to me.

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