MUSIC. Etwatwa's rising star

By Tebogo Molefe
Music maestro Andrew set to conquer world. Although he is only 19 years of age, he has far bigger plans for the music industry than his age suggests…

Andrew is a music producer, a DJ, an event management specialist, and he manages dancers. He is also a director of Betla Melody with Kabeli Lichaba. Betla Melody is an artists’ management company which hopes to unearth world-class musicians and artists out the dusty township of Etwatwa, just outside Daveyton in Benoni. He has worked with Neziswa Stungu from Cape Town, Infinity Boys, TP Rock, and many others. As a DJ he has played at The Moon in Benoni and Disoufeng in Soweto, The Miller Party and at many other places. “By accident,” he quips,” I have also played at venues where ladies strip to the bone. “I did not know that ladies took off their clothes at that venue, I only found out when I got there but, what the heck, I continued playing. It was eye-catching and exhilarating and they paid me good money.

Andrew’s music has been published previously, and 4 of his songs are currently on the internet since the beginning of this month. These songs, which he says are going to burn the dance floors in Mzansi and the world, are Amaphupho featuring Neziswa, Pareke, a Tsonga song, Lengoma and Kudala Ndi Kulindile. Most of his songs are Xhosa because most of the time the vocalists are always Xhosa speaking, so it’s easier for them to sing. When asked about his previously published songs, he said he did make money but was robbed by unscrupulous administrators whom he did not want to name. He says the music industry is very challenging because it’s hard getting your songs played because some radio DJ’S look for kick-backs.

Andrew, when asked if he has any groupies, he smiles shyly and remarks, “Of course, girls will always follow superstars. And again, people stare, always.” But he thinks money will not change him. “I am very shy and no, I don’t think money will change me because what I see in clubs is how people spend their money, especially the youth. He developed the love for music at the age of ten, and his favourite instruments are pianno and guitar. He loves all types of music but he prefers house and jazz. “I do music for the love of it and not for money,” he says. He adds that his role model was dj Cleo but now he feels like he can do more than him.

Before the fame, as a child he went to Bafochiko Primary School and later went to Dr Harry Gwala Secondary School to do Grade 10 and 11. His favourite subject was Electrical Subject because he loves it. He would love to design electronic gadgets one day, like something that has never been created before. Andrew did not finish school leaving after doing only Grade 11. “I am not planning to go back to school,” he points out. “From a very young age I knew what I wanted and that was music and, leaving school was a good thing because I discovered secrets about the music industry. My parents were disappointed though. They did not understand why I had to leave school and were not supportive of my career choice, and that makes me feel sad.”

Andrew is not married, has no kids yet and is “in between relationships”. He says he can’t predict if he will marry a musician one day, but when he gets married it will be an agreement between him and that person because marriage is for two people. If he were to do collaborations any time soon it would be with Black Coffee and Black Motion. He also wants to produce Lira and Wizz Masuku, a Mozambican artist. Andrew’s maiden album is coming out in September this year and he is working very hard for both himself and for Betla Melody. “The world better watch out for us…we have arrived.”