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I feel most alive when making or performing music. I simply can't disconnect from it.

Thanks for the warm welcome. My full name is Tlotliso Ambrose Lesola (K), known as De Arabian Sax . Honestly, go nneteng nje , I wouldn’t call it a spark — it was more like a plug. I was born into a family of musicians, or rather, artists. My father is a brass instrumentalist, and so are my brother and sister, while my mother is a vocalist. I never really intended to pursue music as a career. It’s just always been in me — I feel most alive when making or performing music. I simply can't disconnect from it. I never even realized it could become a thing , you know? Ke wetse! My sound? God’s sound! Haha. It’s hard to explain because the way I prepare is more spiritual than technical. I see many artists rehearse, memorize, and get ready — but for me, it's different. I won’t claim to know what makes my music stand out, but I do know that the delivery of each message in every song is unique. My saxophone playing, my voice — they may resemble others in some ways, but there’s on...
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Music is more than just a talent—it’s something I respect and adore.

Meet Tumisang Matshediso – A Passionate Drummer and Sound Engineer with a Vision for Gospel Music My name is Tumisang Matshediso , a proud native of Morokweng village in the North West province. I am a drum player by profession and a sound engineer at my local church, where I’m also currently learning to play the keyboard. My love for music began at just 8 years old , playing drums in church. That early start laid the foundation for what has now become a deep and lifelong passion. Music is more than just a talent—it’s something I respect and adore . It has introduced me to many great musicians who appreciate my style and the spirit I bring to every performance. I draw inspiration from some of South Africa’s most professional gospel drummers — Sabu Satsha , Sinikiwe Mabaso , and Mfundo Mngadi —as well as from my own band , who push me to strive harder through every rehearsal and performance. My Journey It hasn't been easy. I’ve faced challenges, from being overlooked or unde...

KELETSO KHOTA: IS YOUNG TALENTED AND INTERNATIONAL

  We are always extremely delighted to be talking to musicians doing great work, KELETSO is no different, coming out of south Africa's capital city to world class stages such as the standard bank joy of jazz, we had the pleasure of finding out a bit about him and his musical weapon of choice- the bass guitar. CHILLIECHEWER : Could you please introduce yourself to those who may not know you? And WHAT instrument you play. My name is Keletso Khota , 30 years of age. I’m from Pretoria, and I play the bass guitar. CHILLIECHEWER : Who encouraged or inspired you to choose your instrument? What made me choose the instrument I’m playing is the sound of it. I heard it being played at church once, and I asked to be taught. The rest is history. CHILLIECHEWER : What kind of bass guitars do you play? Keletso Khota : I play electric bass guitar. Currently, I have three bass guitars that I use for my gigs: Yamaha TRB , IbanezBTB , and Cort Action . CHILLIECHEWER : What is your favorite...

Ntshikiwane-Musical medicine woman.

join us as we chat with a South African afro soul singer-songwriter-guitarist to learn more about her music, creative process, and influences. Chilliechewer- What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music Ntshikiwane-  My late father is my biggest inspiration. I come from a family of singers so I knew I would somehow end up doing that as a career. Chilliechewer-  Are there specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music? Ntshikiwane-  My music is about bringing people back to themselves and helping them remember who and what they are. So many times we are taught that our identities are tied to what we do, who we know or what we have. As cliché as it is, everything we are seeking is within. Through my music I intend that people take a break from the chase and be still long enough to reconnect with the deeper part of themselves. here is one of her beautiful music video  Chilliechewer-  Who are your musical influences, and how have they sh...

Obakeng Loeto: Trying to find the keys to your soul.

As we continue to scour the length and breadth of South Africa and the continent, searching for phenomenal artists doing great work in their spaces, we stumbled upon Obakeng Loeto Keys from Bloemfontein in the Free State, South Africa. And this is what we learned about him. Chilliechewer- What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music Obakeng: Music brings us together it's a universal language that translate experience, feelings and ideas into something that can be shared Chilliechewer-  Are there specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music? Obakeng: Music is a universal language it has the power to evoke and amplify joy, sadness and love all I want is to create a vivid imagery in the listeners mind Chilliechewer-  Who are your musical influences, and how have they shaped and inspired your style or Are there specific songs or artists that hold special meaning for you? Obakeng: Man...they are so many from jazz, gospel to neo soul Benjamin dube Chan...

FREE STATE FIRE BURNING.

This month, we link up with an artist born in Paul Roux near a town called Bethlehem in the Free State, with roots from Lesotho. This artist is determined to keep his Sotho traditional music alive and relevant to a new audience. We asked him a few questions about his journey. CHILLIECHEWER: What inspired you to pursue a career in music and who or what were your early influences? FIRE MALAKABE: I was initially inspired to pursue a career in music by my deep love and passion for creating and performing music. My musical upbringing was filled with a diverse range of influences. My parents exposed me to various genres and artists, which helped shape my musical palate. I started taking singing lessons at a young age, and later, I joined a community choir where I expressed my talent for singing. I have a variety of musical influences that have shaped my style. Artists like Lebo Mathosa and Mandoza. Every time I listened to their music, I would feel like I can actually make it. Their ability ...

Boitshoko: Infusing Soul into the Bass Strings

Continuing with our Women in Music series during the month of February, the month of love, we proudly present the dynamic, soulful, and lovely Boitshoko. We had the pleasure of catching up with Boitshoko_Soulstring through social media and delving into the inspiration behind her choice of instrument. It's a rare occurrence to encounter a young, talented female bass guitarist these days. Boitshoko graciously answered our questions, and we're excited for you to find her journey as captivating as we did. **Chilliechewer:** Could you please introduce yourself to those who may not know you? Include your name, age, where you're from, and the instrument you play. **Soulstring:** I am Boitshoko Thole, known as "Soul string." I was born and raised in Pretoria. I'm a versatile bassist; I play both upright and electric bass. I've been a bassist for 6 years now. **Chilliechewer:** It's interesting that you also play the upright, which can be associated with jazz ...