An Afrikaans singer and songwriter of bright, earnest contemporary pop, Karlien van Jaarsveld made her solo debut with 2010's As die Gordyn Val, before becoming a household name in South Africa with her second full-length, the next year's Jakkals Trou Met Wolf Se Vrou. She continued to chart with albums including her fifth, 2017's Sing vir Liefde. Born in Paarl, van Jaarsveld comes from a musical family; her brother, Bobby van Jaarsveld, is also a recording artist. She sang and played guitar on his first album, 2006's Duisend Ure. Karlien then founded the rock group Resolusie (Revolution), singing lead until 2008, when she struck out on her own. Her first solo album, As die Gordyn Val, saw release in 2010. After signing with South African label Johan Vorster Songs, van Jaarsveld followed it in 2011 with Jakkals Trou Met Wolf Se Vrou, which went platinum. That year, she also appeared in the music- themed film Platteland alongside singers like Lianie May and Steve Hofmeyr. Van Jaarsveld returned to the big screen in 2013 for another musical drama, As Jy Sing, and released the album Uitklophou. Her fourth full-length, My Hartjie, went gold upon its arrival in 2015, as did 2017's Sing vir Liefde. In the meantime, Johan Vorster Songs partnered with Universal, which issued Die Beste Tot Nou in 2018. In September of the following year, van Jaarsveld published the cookbook Karlien Kan Nie Kook Nie. ~ Marcy Donelson
