“Dilana will go down as one of the greatest female singers ever.”
– music-industry.squidoo.com
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, as Dilana Jansen Van Vuuren, this girl discovered a love for music at an early age, participating in school and church choirs as an escape from an unpleasant home life. At age 2, her last name was changed to Smith after her stepfather adopted her.
Inspired by such visceral singers as Janis Joplin and Tina Turner, Dilana ran away from home at the age of 15 to escape her chaotic home life and to follow her own dreams. But the music scene in South Africa was a dead end for Dilana, struggling with the apartheid era, sanctions and boycotts, she couldn’t spread her wings any further. So in the mid 90’s she left her homeland and took the leap to the Netherlands. With her then band, WOZANI (Zulu for Come and Join) she found herself with a Dutch record deal and a promising music career in Holland. The album did a belly flop and the CAZ CD was bust. But Dilana’s warrior heart always fights through every challenge and soon she formed her own band named CAZMELION, with a few local musicians and rapidly became one of the country’s most coveted live acts.
A few years later, Dilana was offered another Dutch record deal and released her debut solo album, Wonderfool in 2000. This album yielded five singles, four videos and a string of touring and festival gigs throughout the region, celebrating her natural talents as a songwriter and performer.
After relocating to the U.S.A. in 2001, by way of Houston, Dilana arrived in L.A. in 2006 and auditioned to compete on TV’s “Rock Star Supernova.” Quoted in the Hollywood Press, “The moment she stepped on the Mayan Theatre stage for Episode 1 and performed ‘Lithium,’ Dilana instantly became the show’s frontrunner.” Her powerful vocals and commanding stage presence amassed legions of new fans from around the world. That acclaim inspired Dilana to further pursue her musical passions with characteristic tenacity.
“The South-African born singer had a buzz-saw voice that can cut through steel and is a polished live performer that had enough awareness of dynamics to change up her sound. She did a version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” on the show that was absolutely hypnotic.”
– antimusic.com
Dilana has performed with rock’s biggest legends including Tommy Lee and Mick Mars (Mötley Crue), Dave Navarro (Jane’s Addiction, Red Hot Chili Peppers), Gilby Clark (Guns N’ Roses), Adrian Young (No Doubt), DJ Ashba (SIXX AM), John 5 (Marilyn Manson) and many others. In 2007, she won over the masses with opening slot performances for Aerosmith and Beth Hart. She launched two solo tours spanning North America and Western Europe that both consistently sold out and earned stellar reviews in the press and in 2009, Dilana ended a third successful year performing by touring her native South Africa.
Following the release of seven singles, Dilana spent much of 2008 in the studio. In November 2009, she unleashed the album Inside Out, featuring 12 original tracks and her first full-length album in nine years. As new opportunities presented themselves, Dilana jumped at the chance to venture into film acting. The singer/songwriter won the BEST ACTRESS award as well as the BEST MUSIC award at the Action On Film International Film Festival for the 9 songs she co-wrote with Erik Eldenius (current drummer for Billy Idol) and performed in the rock drama: Angel Camouflaged.
During her wide-ranging world touring, Dilana performed in Afghanistan for the troops in 2009 and 2010. She was a part of the Go Army Concert Series tour in August 2011, sharing the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Doobie Brothers as well as touring Holland, South Africa, and across the USA.
2012/2013 brought fans news that Dilana would be welcoming two new creations to the world. One, the studio release of her new album titled Beautiful Monster, recorded and produced in Seattle by legendary producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Sound Garden) right after she finished a tour where she opened for Puddle of Mudd and also for Saliva. And two, Dilana’s best creation EVER – a beautiful daughter named River. Both officially released in 2013.
“Beautiful Monster” is a remarkable album, one that as a listener I’m enthralled with, one that as a songwriter I’m in awe of. “Beautiful Monster” is not just the best album so far this year, it’s one of the most emotionally resonant albums I’ve ever heard.”
– Bloody Good Music Review
Dilana toured the world extensively, going non-stop from 2014 to present day, spending most of her time in Europe, but also touring the USA and Africa. Dilana has released 3 singles during this time; 3rd and Lindsley, Right Here Right Now (with the Bottleneck Rockers), No Plain Jane (with the Roosterz), Roxanne – a reggae mixed single which she performed on The Voice Of Holland in late 2016. In that same year, Dilana also released the soundtrack to her movie Angel Camouflaged, entitled Dilana.
In 2017 Dilana once again relocated. This time back to the Netherlands to follow her career and raise her daughter. In 2018 she released a new single, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. This song was written by Dilana and Jeff Zwart specifically for an organization to help with the awareness campaign of Child and Human Trafficking. Dilana also made an independent video for this track which shows a real and clear message about this topic… also quite a persona project for the artist.
In 2019, the first ever, long-awaited live CD was released, Live Christmas Show 2018. This special Christmas album was recorded during a SOLD-OUT show in a beautiful church in Emmen, Netherlands.
2020 has started off as an exciting musical year, with a smashing new 5 track EP titled ANIMAL, co-written and produced with her long-time musical soulmate, Jeff Zwart released in March and the much anticipated remastered re-release of INSIDEOUT with the bonus track of the previously unreleased single, Crossroads, in June.
“Yes, this is a very different Dilana than we might be used to, but as time has progressed, she has grown. She is now not just speaking about herself and to each one of us individually, but about everyone and to all of us. As much as sharing your soul is brave, so too is speaking up for what you believe is right.”
– Bloody Good Music Review