Watch: Chaka’s Rock musician finds her way out of lockdown blues by getting lost in Neverland

Callie Els is a Chaka’s Rock musician with international ambitions and she is about to launch her first extended play record (EP).

Els (17) has had a lifelong relationship with music, singing along to Michael Jackson pop songs and giving her family private performances from the age of 4.

“I was never very musical but Callie’s grandfather was always quite accomplished on the guitar and that could be where she first developed her ear for music,” said father, Alvin.

The desire to carry on learning and to fine-tune her songwriting abilities, however, was completely self-driven, he said.

Initially, her vocals were only performed for an audience of one in the mirror, but she soon felt comfortable in front of a crowd.

“She was always a little shy but has just grown in confidence over the past few years,” said sister Farren.

For the past two years, Callie has been enrolled at the Campus of Performing Arts (COPA) in Morningside.

They typically accept students over the age of 18, but following an audition, 17-year-old Callie was allowed in to do a bridging course.

Now she has the advantage of tutelage from a number of local musicians and recording artists who have helped to hone both her vocal quality and business acumen.

“The programme that I am studying is designed for someone who is trying to make a career in the business so it really helps to learn a number of different skills, not just the singing,” she said.

Like everyone else in the country, Callie was confined to home during lockdown and took the time to start writing with the intention of making an album.

The first song she wrote and the first single released from her upcoming EP is Neverland, based on the imagery of Peter Pan.

“I was going through some things and was obviously stuck inside and Peter Pan was the first thing that came to mind. I wanted to feel free again,” she said.

The release and first performance of the album is on March 24 at Umhlali Country Club.

You can find Neverland on all main streaming platforms with a music video on YouTube.

There are 5 more songs to be released on all streaming platforms on March 26.