Thandolwethu Emily Nomvula Sikwila, known mononymously as Thando, is a Zimbabwean Australian singer, songwriter and actor based in Melbourne, Victoria.[2][3] She's most notable for her appearances on The Voice Australia. She was a contestant on season three, but was eliminated in the sing-offs. She later returned in season eleven and made it to the finals. She also portrayed Effie White in Australia's first professional production of Dreamgirls, presented by StageArt.[4][5][6] In 2024, Thando played Joanne in the Australian production of Rent.[7]
Thando Sikwila | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thandolwethu Emily Nomvula Sikwila |
| Born | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe |
| Origin | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
Early life edit
Thando was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 9 April 1993 to parents Nokuthula and Victor Sikwila. Thando is bilingual being able to speak Ndebele.
Career edit
The Voice Australia 2014 edit
She auditioned for the third season of The Voice Australia with the song Mercy at the age of twenty and chose Kylie Minogue as her coach. She was eliminated in the sing-offs.[8]
| The Voice performances and results (2014) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Song | Original Artist | Result |
| Audition | "Mercy" | Duffy | Through to The Battles |
| The Battles | "Clown" (vs Candice Skjonnemand) | Emeli Sandé | Lost. Saved by Ricky. Through to the Showdowns |
| Showdowns | "Sex on Fire" | Kings of Leon | Through to the Sing-Off |
| Sing-Off | "Mercy" | Duffy | Eliminated |
The Voice Australia 2022 edit
She auditioned for The Voice Australia again in 2022, for its eleventh season. She turned all four chairs in her blind audition due to her amazing, powerful and soulful voice,[9] and chose Keith Urban as her coach. She made it to the Grand Finale and ended up placing second, with Lachie Gill taking the $100 000 prize.
| The Voice performances and results (2022) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode | Song | Original Artist | Result |
| Audition | "I'm Every Woman" | Chaka Khan | Through to The Callbacks |
| The Callbacks | "I'm Every Woman" (vs Ethan Conway) | Chaka Khan | Through to Battles |
| Battles | "Beggin'" | The Four Seasons | Through to the Sing-Offs |
| Sing-Offs | "Chandelier (song)" | Sia | Saved by Coach. Through to Semi Final |
| Semi Final | "POV" | Ariana Grande | Saved by Coach. Through to Grand Final |
| Grand Final | "Rise Up" | Andra Day | Finalist |
| "Oh My God" (with Keith Urban) | Adele | ||
Discography edit
Extended plays edit
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Bury The Weapon |
|
| Remix the Weapons |
|
| Digital Love Letters |
|
| Life In Colour |
|
Singles edit
| Title | Year |
|---|---|
| "Inferno"[citation needed] | 2013 |
| "Won't You Be Mine"[citation needed] | 2014 |
| "Trouble"[citation needed] | 2016 |
| "Something"[citation needed] | |
| "Numb" (featuring Remi)[10] |
2018 |
| “Journey To The Past” (with Greg Gould) | 2021 |
| "Fall"[citation needed] | 2022 |
Guest or featured artist edit
- "Brainless" - Sinks feat. Thando (single, 2017, independent)
- "The Antidote" - Sinks feat. Dyl Thomas, Mol One, Thando (single, 2017, independent)
- "My People" - Remi feat. Thando (single, 2018, House of Beige)
- "All That I Got" - Royalty Noise feat. Thando (single, 2018, independent)
References edit
- ^ "Gold Coaster axed from The Voice". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "New Musical BOWIE AND MERCURY RISING to Debut at Chapel off Chapel". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ Hogan, Jil (27 January 2015). "Canberra Weekender: What's on in Canberra January 30 – February 1". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Renowned composer Warren Willis is debuting a musical about David Bowie and Freddie Mercury in Melbourne". The AU Review. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "From The Voice to Dreamgirls". Herald Sun. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Cast Announced Australasian Premiere of THE COLOR PURPLE". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Cast/Creatives". rentmusical.au. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Hogan, Jil (26 May 2014). "Thando Sikwila's battle round outcome on The Voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ^ Christmass, Pip (21 March 2022). "The Voice Australia 2022 judges wowed as soulful singing mum chases dreams". 7 News.
- ^ "thando – 'NUMB' ft. Remi | Acid Stag". Acidstag.com. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.