The 31-year-old grew up in Palapye and studied for a Bachelors Degree Fine Arts Theatre at the University of Botswana. Her stage name is Baratwa. In an interview with Arts & Culture, she said her EP is still new in the market as it is five-months-old.
She also explained that 3 Decades is made up of Pop songs, a genre she loved listening to growing up. “3 Decades EP is made up of seven songs namely; Ga Ke Batle, that I sung alone, Ga Ke Batle ft.Term Ntombo, Itshwarele, Motlhokomedi, Tell Me, Bolela and Worthy.
The EP talks about social issues we find in our society such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), which is a growing problem in the country; it talks about forgiveness in relationships as well as knowing one's worth.
All of us were fearfully and wonderfully made by the great I am. One needs to understand that everything in life starts with self, love, hate and or all of it all,” she said.
She disclosed that the EP was produced in Gaborone by one of the best local music producers famed as Obylardo. Baratwa added that she composed all her songs with the help of the music producers who were always present to help her. She added that she has four separate singles titled Mosadi Wa Gago, Maikutlo, Ghosted and Ke Batla Lerato all produced by Joe Luda Music Production from 2019-20. She added that in 2021 they released her first EP titled ‘Little Things’ made of seven songs dubbed; Sheba, Ke Nako, Action, Molelelo ft K Fros, Ya Mahala, Drop That Nikker and Bana. K Fros produced it. She said they released 3 Decades in December last year.
This talented upcoming artist started her music journey in 2019 when she released her first solo single titled ‘Mosadi Wa Gago’. “The challenges I find as an artist is mostly funds because right now you will find that I have so many songs yet I have two to three music videos which cost a lot to make. Another challenge I have is not being able to get pay gigs or shows. However, in 2022 I was nominated for BOMU Best RnB artist alongside amazing artists like Mpho Sebina, Nicole Martinez and Charity Seipone that I find in the industry and also nominated for Women Achievers Awards 2022 Rising Star category,” she explained. Since she is still young in the music industry, she said she was impressed with her achievements saying she had so far done pretty well with the little she had.
Her advice to aspiring artists is to put their all on their work, be consistent, get education and learn as much as they could, be patient, have other side hustles if necessary to fund whatever they could, believe in themselves. She said Baratwa music was available on all digital music stores like Apple music as well as radio stations urging her fans to request for it to be played on their favourite shows. Her social media platforms are @Baratwa Music & @Baratwa Phuthego on YouTube.
