Swakop Songbird Helps Young Voices Soar

At nine years old, Savannah Collins picked up her first guitar at Swakopmund, inspired by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and a local music teacher whose classical performances left a lasting impression.

“I couldn’t have known that those first tentative plays would lead to this journey,” Collins says.

Today, she is one of Namibia’s most respected vocal coaches and performers, with over 15 years of professional experience.

She now runs Songbird Vocal Studio, one of only 12 music schools in the country accredited by the University of South Africa (Unisa). Based at Swakopmund, it offers vocal, guitar and music theory lessons to more than 14 students.

“My studio will turn five next year, and I can confidently say it’s one of the most successful music schools in the Erongo region,” she says.

Though she has performed internationally in France, the United Kingdom and South Africa, opening for acts like Freshlyground, Prime Circle, and Arno Carstens, Collins says teaching is what fulfils her.

“Songbird is not merely a studio, it’s a family,” she says. “I want my students to feel safe, brave in their explorations, and grounded in their faith. Every lesson is about growth – in music and in life.”

Her passion for mentorship inspired the launch of the Coastal Talent Show, which gives young artists – from singers and rappers to dancers and poets – a platform to showcase their creativity.

“There is so much talent among the youth, yet they have few platforms. That inspired me to create a space where they can grow and be confident enough to be appreciated,” she says.

At this year’s Namibia Championships of Performing Arts, nine of Collins’ students won a total of 47 medals, including 15 gold, 23 silver and nine bronze. The studio’s group act, The Spicebirds, earned gold for their lively rendition of the Spice Girls’ ‘Wannabe’.

Collins herself made a return to the stage after five years, performing alongside three of her students.

“Going on stage with my students and winning medals together was magical,” she says.

Rayne Sadler (16), one of the competition’s gold medallists, says the experience was transformative.

“Winning gold was awesome, but the best part was being in a team that constantly encouraged one another,” she says.

After completing school in Namibia, Collins studied music in Cape Town, where she immersed herself in the live performance scene.

“It wasn’t just about learning new techniques,” she says. “It was about experiencing music as a living art – performing for people, collaborating, and growing as an artist.”

MILESTONE

Her 2016 debut album, ‘Be Free’, featuring 12 original tracks, became a career milestone.

“That album was a landmark,” she says.

“It proved that Namibian artists have stories worth sharing with the world.” One track even received radio airplay in the United States, giving her international exposure.

At Songbird, Collins encourages her students to explore multiple art forms.

“I always tell my students to experiment – try different genres, instruments, acting, or even painting,” she says. “Creativity doesn’t have limits.”

Her teaching approach has paid off. A group of first-year students recently won silver medals for instrumental guitar at the national championships.

“Even our youngest students, some only 11 years old, show incredible determination,” she says.

Beyond teaching, Collins has contributed to the Namibian music scene through collaborations and songwriting.

She co-wrote ‘Namibia My Friend’ for Gondwana Collection to raise awareness of the country’s wild horses, performed with Ees, the German X-Factor winner, and collaborated with The Desert Crow Conspiracy on ‘9 Hurt Red’.

In 2020, she was appointed head judge of ‘The Voice of Namibia’, a role that cemented her as a key figure in the local industry.

Looking ahead, Collins hopes to expand the Coastal Talent Show into a national platform.

“The competition is about more than winning,” she says. “It’s about giving young artists a stage to express themselves, gain confidence and learn what it means to perform.”

Through Songbird Vocal Studio, the Coastal Talent Show and her mentorship, Collins is nurturing a new generation of Namibian musicians.

“I see so much potential in Namibia’s youth,” she says.

“They just need opportunities, guidance and belief – and that’s what I’m here to give.”

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