Despite having left Port Elizabeth in 2018 to pursue his music career in China, multi-genre singer artist Ranwin Le-Roy’s goal is to influence change and equality in the South African music industry.
On his recent visit to Port Elizabeth, the former Nelson Mandela University (NMU) student said he aimed to become more than just a singer with a beat and meaningless lyrics.
Instead he hopes to become a musician with a positive influence on his community and home country.
“I want to be seen as an activist for equality and help people see their worth,” he said.
His full name is Ranwin Le-Roy van der Hoogen, but he is better known by his stage name, Ranwin Le-Roy.
“The first thing I want my music to stand for is comfortability and equality because there is a lot of inequality in a lot of industries and within the LGBQ+ community,” he said.
Born in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape, Ranwin grew up in Port Elizabeth from the age of two until he finished matric in 2012.
On his quest to influence positive change, he recently touched the hearts of many fans with the release of his single, I Am Enough, with US singer Jody Steel.
I Am Enough is a message of affirmation to fans to see their own worth and know that they are enough, he said.
The single is part of his debut album, Mood, set for release in September.
Although he cut his teeth in the industry as a pop singer, he no longer conforms to a specific genre.
“I am not boxed in – my music is a mixture of pop, soul, hip-hop and R&B,” he said.
To Ranwin, music comes as a natural talent which he pursues besides his academic career.
The singer obtained a degree in psychology and sociology and an honours in sociology from NMU.
“Even though my passion is music, education is important to me and it’s something that should not be neglected,” he said.
Ranwin juggles his music career with his job as a staff specialist and coordinator at Hailiang Education Group.
The singer initially moved to China to study medicine, but returned to Port Elizabeth a year later to pursue his psychology degree.
While at NMU, he developed his music career, writing songs and performing at events in the city.
However, the seed that blossomed into his career in China, was planted in 2013 when he competed in The Voice China.
“I decided to return to pursue my music in China because that’s where my career really kicked off after I did The Voice,” the 25-year-old said.