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
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