Connell Cruise knows how to connect with an audience. The 27-year-old South African singer-songwriter has a smile to brighten any room and an attitude to match. Charismatic and modest, Connell has a boyish sense of curiosity and a love for life that has seeped into his music. He writes energetic, catchy songs that exude positivity and maturity and says that, “just to be able to make music – that’s the most incredible dream.”

Despite his bashful charm, Connell is no stranger to success. After being discovered locally by David Gresham Records, he released his South African debut in 2013 and received three South African Music Award nominations the following year. In early 2014, a beautiful cover version of Avicii’s hit Wake Me Up landed him the #1 spot on the South African iTunes charts. “It’s been only about a year,” he says of his success, “and it’s all been so incredible. I feel so lucky” Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.