Leteane defends 'Re hauhele'
CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent
| Thursday January 24, 2008 00:00
He possesses a golden voice and it must be easy for any producer to get the best out of him.
But just one track spoils it all. It is understandable that Vusi idolises South African gospel maestro Lundi Tamarya but going to the extent of copying him is likely to leave people doubting the dynamic star's potential.
Track number five Ha le mpotsa on Vusi's latest album, which hit the shelves in mid December, does not sound like Tamarya's but it is just a Setswana version of the South African's number.
Though he denies copying it, Leteane conceded that since the track was an old gospel hymn, 'there is little you can do as the producer to do it differently'.
'Yes, it does sound like Tamarya's but he was singing it in Xosa and we did it in Setswana. No one can say we reproduced Tamarya's song because he also took it from the hymn a book,' Leteane said in defence.
However, it is still a good album with vibe danceable tracks as well as slow-paced soul soothing melodies. If the instrumentation is not 100 percent, Vusi's powerful voice compensates for the shortcoming. But one thing for certain is that he is mellowing with time. In the last project it was clear he was still raw but in Re hau hele he sounds more composed, not stretching the cord too high like he did with some songs in his previous work.
The latest is an eight-track piece, which kicks off with the track Uthando. Well paced, the opening track captures the listener's imagination; it is capable of bringing him new followers, while cementing his place in the hearts of the old faithful.
Baratang ho phela will also have listeners feeling closer to the Creator with its touching bass and relaxing synthesizer which combines very well with Vusi's periodically changing voice. Any music lover would feel the urge to get this one.
In 2005, 13-year-old Vusi burst onto the scene with an album called Ntate re thuse. He was an instant hit as he dominated the airwaves both on radio and television wrestling with established acts like his mentor Leteane in the process. Gospel lovers were left in awe, amazed by the talent possessed by such a small boy. He had such a powerful voice that it was difficult for competitors to ignore him just like that even though there were those rough edges that needed smoothening.
The following year, young Vusi was nominated for 'Best male gospel artist' award for the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Awards and though he did not finally win it announced his arrival onto the scene in a big way.
But it took him another two years to have a follow-up released, which only came late last year. Several factors contributed to the delay in releasing that album. According to the 15-year-old, the first album was 'doing so well that we felt releasing another one would disturb its sales'.
However, his conflict with Leteane also delayed the release. Some time in November last year Vusi came into contact with Joel Keitumele, another gospel artiste for a possible recording deal as he felt he was being cheated. That was just after he finished recording Re hauhele. Leteane was ready to release it, while Vusi wanted to record another one with Keitumele.
In the end the youngster decide to return to Leteane, hence the release of the album. This is how Leteane discovered Vusi. 'I remember in 2004 I was invited to Vusi's church in Francistown and he was curtain-raising with the choir. I just felt that he had exceptional talent and deserved something better.
So after the show I contacted him and his parents and we were off to the studio for his first album and amazingly he was not nervous and as you know his first album was just fantastic,' Leteane said.
'Leteane has been inspirational all these years. Working with him has taught me to be strong because he always tells me that I should know my priorities in life and that education comes first. Like last year before my examinations I was given a long break to study even though there were bookings for my services,' the youngster said of his mentor.
Re hauhele will be launched in March where Leteane, Vusi, Thato, Obakeng and many other gospel artistes are expected to feature.
'We are planning to tour the whole country starting here in Gaborone. We really want to reach a bigger audience. I know people have been missing him but we did not want to rush things. Few people have had the chance to listen to this album but it is important that we actually take it to them.
The other thing is that he is still upcoming; so marketing him is still crucial,' Leteane said.