A chance meeting with local record label managers opened up many doors for a Mthatha-born singer/songwriter who has now been nominated in two different music awards.
Rising musical force Thandokazi Mbete has been nominated for the best newcomer award in the South African Traditional Music Awards (Satmas).
The 24-year-old was also nominated in the best female category for the Kumkani FM Music Awards for her debut afro-soul album Imvelaphi, which she released last year under the under Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC) Records in East London.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Mbete said she was still shocked as she had never anticipated such an achievement so early in her career.
“I still cannot believe it, even when I got the call I thought it was a joke, but it makes me so happy and proud of myself. I feel like the nomination validates not only me and my craft, but it’s also a pat on the back to ECAVC and the work that they do there.
“Even if I do not win, it’s not about that anymore, for me the nomination itself is a major achievement. It really means that I am growing as an artist,” said Mbete.
The second year BComm accounting student at the University of Fort Hare said she was just “joking around” when she told record label manager at ECAVC, Nduduzo Makhatini that she could sing.
“Last year I got a chance to visit the centre where I met Nduduzo and when I saw the studio, I told them that I could sing. They asked me to send a demo and the rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
Mbete describes her music as a brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with soulful Xhosa stylings, sly gospel and jazz nuances, and has performed on big stages such as the National Arts Festival.
Acclaimed pianist and producer Makhathini, who is also the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist for jazz, on hearing the news expressed his excitement.q
Director of ECAVC, Sy Ntuli also added that “Thandokazi is a brilliant artist and that the nomination comes as an affirmation that the label is also doing something right”.
lThe 10th annual Satma Awards will be held at the University of Zululand, Empangeni over two days on October 2 and 3.
Singer Thandokazi eyes Satma gongs
Rising musical force Thandokazi Mbete has been nominated for the best newcomer award in the South African Traditional Music Awards (Satmas).
The 24-year-old was also nominated in the best female category for the Kumkani FM Music Awards for her debut afro-soul album Imvelaphi, which she released last year under the under Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre (ECAVC) Records in East London.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Mbete said she was still shocked as she had never anticipated such an achievement so early in her career.
“I still cannot believe it, even when I got the call I thought it was a joke, but it makes me so happy and proud of myself. I feel like the nomination validates not only me and my craft, but it’s also a pat on the back to ECAVC and the work that they do there.
“Even if I do not win, it’s not about that anymore, for me the nomination itself is a major achievement. It really means that I am growing as an artist,” said Mbete.
The second year BComm accounting student at the University of Fort Hare said she was just “joking around” when she told record label manager at ECAVC, Nduduzo Makhatini that she could sing.
“Last year I got a chance to visit the centre where I met Nduduzo and when I saw the studio, I told them that I could sing. They asked me to send a demo and the rest, as they say, is history,” she said.
Mbete describes her music as a brassy mix of emotive vocals tinged with soulful Xhosa stylings, sly gospel and jazz nuances, and has performed on big stages such as the National Arts Festival.
Acclaimed pianist and producer Makhathini, who is also the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist for jazz, on hearing the news expressed his excitement.q
Director of ECAVC, Sy Ntuli also added that “Thandokazi is a brilliant artist and that the nomination comes as an affirmation that the label is also doing something right”.
lThe 10th annual Satma Awards will be held at the University of Zululand, Empangeni over two days on October 2 and 3.
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