Grenadilla’s joyful, up-beat songs are filled with multi-layered voices and Kwela flavored rhythms drawn from founder/songwriter Debbie Lan’s Cape Town roots. Her lyrics are a powerful celebration of life, friendship, connection and joyfulness, a reflection of the possibilities of love and growth that surround us everyday. Perhaps growing up in apartheid South Africa surrounded by a vibrant musical culture set the stage for this music and the underlying themes of unity, diversity, community and tolerance. With a passion for kwela music and layered, lush vocals, Debbie colored her songs with the sounds and rhythms of the street music of her childhood, a worldly fusion of voices, drums, pennywhistles, saxophones, organs, guitars, the ballaphone and of course Debbie’s signature piano style. Started in 2009, Grenadilla is a multi-voiced, kwela-based collective whose sound makes for the perfect family music. On stage and on its two CDs, the band stirs up a jubilant, worldy hullabaloo that is unique. “It’s family friendly music, for sure, but it’s definitely not just for little kids,” says Debbie, a mother, musician, recording and teaching Artist who lives in upstate New York, as do her band mates. "So many parents who’ve bought our CDs tell us they love the music so much they listen to it in their car themselves-even when their kids aren’t around.” Grenadilla's sound is sophisticated and at the same time the music has the feeling of a block party - a community gathering together to sing and play. Their flawless harmonies, danceable rhythms and Debbie Lan's crystal, soulful lead vocals are a hallmark of their CDs. A strong performing band, their rich vocal harmonies are joyful, the sound of good friends having fun together. They offer lively, uplifting sing-along gems that defy kids and their moms, dads, friends, and grandparents not to throw up their hands, move their hips, stomp their feet, sing along and join the jol (party).