Mathe going strong despite stolen 'vocals'

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 4, 2009 00:00

 

It was not until the then rising star ran to the media with the news that he is actually the one who sang as the lead vocalist in Solly Moholo's 1999 hit, Ke Latlhile Boghinsa that there was a change in his fortunes.  He says back then he was a hapless husler, who was simply happy to be in the studio and sing because he had no financial muscle to break into the recording business.

The Solly Moholo project, with hits like Kgosi Mathibe,  Die Pope Sal Dance', and the title track, was a roaring success but the hidden vocalist had nothing to show for it then, until he decided to try something else on his own.

'That album sold over half a million copies but I never got paid. But after 10 years I'm happy that I have released nine albums which have collectively reached half a million copies.'

Sinky says his first solo project, Chomi Ya Bana, in 2000 did very well, selling over 100, 000 copies.' But it was not simple because Sinky Mathe was competing with his own vocals in Solly Moholo.  Some people were saying I was trying to be a Moholo. It is a challenge I face everyday, so long as Solly Moholo is in the market.'

However, Sinky claims that of all his nine albums, none has sold less than 25,000 copies.

His 10th album  O na le maatla, was released three months ago and is already enjoying airplay on Botswana Television (Btv).

Sinky says when he first began recording, he was signed to Cool Spot, a South African music distribution company. However, he has been experiencing remarkable growth, prompting him to establish his own recording label, Sing Mo Production.

' Now I also have my own artistes, eight in total for that matter.  I left Cool Spot in 2006. I have already released three solo projects through the same company.   Things are not as rosy as one would wish, but when each of them can manage to sell 5,000 copies or 2,000 copies, as they do, it is not bad,' he told Showbiz, adding that he is dropping his newest artist, Tebogo Motaun this month.

Although the Pretoria based gospel singer has never performed in Botswana, he claims his music is doing well here. ' My survey reveals my music is doing well here. So long as there are ZCC members here, my music will always be in demand, ' he declares.

He says he will perform in Gaborone for the first time this month, at the Trade Show, alongside Joel Keitumele.

Although he got a raw deal in the Moholo project, Sinky says he sees a silver lining in the fiasco.' Somehow it worked for me. I continue to be invited to perform at big events, especially after some influential people learnt that I'm the one who sang as Moholo's albums.

'Moholo is one of the best producers of ZCC music.  Working with him opened my eyes, now I know what music lovers want. It is amazing that despite the recession, we still manage to sell 500 copies a day in our music promotion activities,' he told Showbiz.