User:Radiant Waters

Christessa (born Christessa Duff-Smith; July 25, 1988) is a Zimbabwean folk-rock singer who is noted for her success in the Harare's Got Talent competition held in Zimbabwe in 2010. She has been writing and performing music since 2008 and after a brief stint at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa she returned to her home country where she began performing in various shows and functions. Christessa has opened for notable artists such as Mango Groove and Ryan Koriya from Mann Friday, as well as embarking on an endevour to bring about further exposure for young Zimbabwean artists, through her shows, Christessa and Friends.

Christessa's music writing came through a rare and unusual series of events. After a near death experience as a result of a failed suicide attempt in 2007, she found that she was able to compose piano music, without having any previous knowledge of the instrument, or former learning. From here, she was introduced to longstanding musician and artist, Fraser Mackay, who mentored her in the art of performing and writing songs.

To date she has written over 50 songs, and will release a single in 2011, entitled 'Roadtrip'.