Umdloti musician Tatum ‘Tides’ Holder encapsulates her style of music in three words: “Rooted in Africa”.

You may have heard her heartwarming voice at The Market or last Thursday at the Corona tent and bar during the Ballito Pro surfing contest.

Her uplifting and soulful melodies drifted through the market stalls, bringing a sense of peace to all the hustle and bustle.

Barefoot and confident she plucked her guitar and ukulele, listeners turning heads and tuning their ears to catch her songs would later learn it was a very special day for her.

“It was my birthday and there was no other place I’d rather be sharing something that I love,” she said.

Having a jazz musician for a dad meant her love of music was cultivated from a young age.

Tatum remembers quietly playing guitar in her room, teaching herself the basics and falling in love with the craft, unaware that she would be on stage sharing her passion many years later.

It was while on a gap year in Italy that she first began playing in public,

“I had run out of money, so I bought a ukulele and started busking on the side of the road.”

It took her two hours to work up the courage to perform by herself for the first time, but once she took the plunge she found it got easier and easier with practice.

Through these improvised shows, she came to the realisation that “music breaks barriers between people” and longed to continue doing so once she returned home.

Completely self-taught, she has been playing locally for several years now, also appearing at Splashy Fen in April.

With the release of her first EP Reverie early last year, she hopes to reach a broader audience, planning a musical pilgrimage to Cape Town in the foreseeable future.

Aurora, Mathew Mole, Jeremy Loops and Alice Phoebe Lou are some of the artists she looks up to and who inspire her.

Tatum currently teaches at Kincottage in Mount Moreland, a Montessori school for children where they develop confidence from a young age.

Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news.

Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you’re on desktop, scan the QR code below.