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Focus on the positive - Interview with Lindsay Yon
Zanele Manhenga, Kubatana.net
March 02, 2010

What made you start singing?
My family is very musical. There are up to three generations of musicians in our family so we grew up with music all around us. It's just been in our blood.

Did you choose music or was it something you just had to do?
It just happened. I remember when I was very young, my dad having band rehearsals at home and we always knew words to the songs. We would always sing along. I guess we kind of fell into it. My first public performance was at 13 years old with my cousin Tina, at Mutare show grounds and it was a rendition of I Love You Daddy.

What, or who influences your music?
I have had a lot of influence from the people around me. Again mostly my family, and that's been about jazz. I have kind of veered off the path from the Yon family because I appreciate rock a lot more than any of them. I know people look at me funny when I say that I like Alanah, and I love Pink, but also like jazz artists like Laura Isabel. I get my inspiration from everywhere, all kinds of music.

Do you write and sing your own songs?
No. Unfortunately I have not reached that stage yet. I just do covers.

Who comes to your shows?
Mainly its people from my own community who come to listen to us. Subway is not that well established. People are still discovering who we are and what we are about. But the response has been positive and very encouraging.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Five years from now I would still like to be in the music industry. Maybe not in the capacity of a singer, but I would like to be still involved in the industry, perhaps in management or marketing.

Do you have children?
I have a 16-year-old son.

How are you balancing music and motherhood?
At the moment we are fairly balanced. He's grown up in a musical environment so its nothing strange to him. I just hope he follows in the same sort of manner, playing an instrument or something like that.

What advice would you give upcoming artists?
When I first started out I always worried what people thought about me. I always felt like, if they saw me on stage, they would say that girl, who does she think she is? I realized that kind of negativity is something you have to learn to shut out. You will always get criticism. You must be able to define what is constructive criticism and bitter criticism. Sift out all the negativity and focus on the positive and you will be fine.

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