Centurion singer set to release new music

A 42-year-old Centurion singer HunTer Leite, whose love for singing has skyrocketed her to international fame, is treating her fans to new music which will be released just before Christmas.

Leite is currently working on several collaborations locally and internationally.

“My fans are in for a treat with these projects. My manager is also busy with some amazing productions, so watch this space.”

Leite was born in Kempton Park but grew up in Benoni, where she started her music journey at the age of 13.

While singing from a very young age, Leite started taking it seriously after winning a karaoke competition for best vocalist when she was 13.

She then went for vocal training, and from there grew from strength to strength.

“After winning my first karaoke competition, my parents helped me by sending me for vocal training and taking me to various competitions.”

She then moved to Centurion after losing everything after the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We lost everything. There was no income, and we were unable to pay rent, so we had to move out.”

HunTer said being a singer in the entertainment industry at the time was difficult because everything was shut down and she couldn’t make any income.

Leite said music was an escape for her.

She said she used to sing in her parents’ attic as it had the most beautiful reverb sound.

“I started my career singing in karaoke bars and worked myself up to entering competitions like Idols.

I think that my music has definitely evolved over the years as I have learnt a lot from the overseas competitions,” she said.

Leite said participating in an international competition was an eye-opener and a learning curve, as the music industry overseas is on a different standard.

“Getting the opportunity to sing in Nashville was a great opportunity and experience for me.”

She said her producer has taken her out of her comfort zone and helped her explore new themes and styles in her current work.

“My songwriting process has shape-shifted with me through my life’s experiences, which I think many fans can relate to as it has a deeper meaning.”

She said being a full-time musician and mother has allowed her to spend time with her children and family as they are always in the studio and at shows.

“I can’t say that my personal life and career are separated, as my daughter helps me with piano chords for songs, and my son listens to final productions, and my wife is also part of all this.”

Leite said she always includes her family in her special moments.

“We are a very close-knit family.”

Leite was recently nominated for awards in Holland and won Best Female Original Song 2024.

She has also been nominated for Woman in Arts and Culture (Woman of Stature Awards).

“This recognition means a lot to me personally, as it gives me that boost to believe in myself because sometimes one tends to get despondent, and professionally it opens up doors for me and is also an inspiration for others.”

In 2017 and 2019, Leite won an award for Texas Best Female Vocalist in Jefferson, Texas, where she competed against singers from 17 countries from around the world.

After that success, Leite was nominated for the first South African Country Music Awards since the mid-70s in October 2018 and won the Best Original Song Award for “Every Woman”.

Leite again bagged two international awards in 2019 for the Josie Music Awards, hosted at Dollywood in Tennessee, USA.

The awards were hosted there by the Josie Network with 23 000 entries from all corners of the globe.

A piece of advice she would give to up-and-coming artists who aspire to achieve similar recognition is to first ask them if it’s their passion.

“I need them to understand that it is important to be original and to work hard and never give up.”

Leite added that they should never compare themselves, as everyone is unique.

Looking ahead, Leite hopes to write inspirational music and perform all over the world.

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