22 Jul 2014

At only 23 years old and going on 24 next month (August), Lebogang Tatedi, known by her stage name of Elté seems to be destined for the big things and it has been an interesting journey for her so far. From travelling the world at a young age, to getting out of a musical contract that was not good for her, the journey was not all bliss.

It is quite evident from the moment we sit down to chat that Elté is very passionate about music and to her it is not a hobby but a career. Having relocated to Cape Town to attend high school and later on going to Johannesburg for tertiary and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance, the young lady had chosen her path.

“I actually majored in screen acting and music as a minor, and entertainment is my life,” she said with a chuckle, adding that she officially started music in 2012, but started working on songs when she was 12 years old.

She indicates that she wrote her first track when she was 12 years old and it was recorded in Cape Town. “Funny thing is, the other day I was driving my mother’s car and I came across my song from when I was 12 and it is quite touching that she still listens to it,” said Elté.

She said that when she initially told her mother that she had written a song and wanted to record it, her mother looked at her as if she was out of her mind, but she caved in and they went ahead with the recording.

“The song was a ballad and was inspired by Mariah Carey and back then, the demos that I recorded did not go anywhere. It was just for me to feel good about myself and then stashing away the demos somewhere for my private consumption,” she said. She started getting serious with music around 2006-07 and that is also when she coined her stage name.

Elté said during that time her music took a backseat because she could not balance her tertiary education with music. “I must say that I was miserable during the time my music took a backseat and even though I am good at acting, I felt that it was something I did not want to do,” said Elté.

She went on to say that she spoke to her mother about it and she encouraged her to step back into music and she decided to put up a track she had recorded in 2007 on a website. In 2012, Elté was signed by a record label based in the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

“There I was using a different artiste name and the fact that it happened very easily made me skeptical about using my stage name, one that I cherished very much,” she said.

With that chapter of her life taking shape, Elté said the record company was playing off the fact that she sounded white and they had her using a stage name she felt was white and suggested to people that did not know her that she was white.

“However, things went bad and I finally came back home last year in July and it is a chapter I want to forget. And when I did come back, I literally went into a 9-5 job the following day,” she said with a heavy voice.

Upon being probed on what really happened, on why she had to get out of her contract, Elté said that she would have ended up in a path that would require her to do things that were not hers.

“I honestly feel I would have gone the Rihanna way, shaving my head, posing nude, have an album titled Good Girl Gone bad type of thing,” she said, adding further that what she is looking for right now is not to be under a label.

Elté said being under a label comes with a whole lot of control; you have people controlling the way you sound, the way you dress and that is when she decided to part ways with them.

“I want to enjoy my craft without being put in a box and I want to mention that I am grateful to my mother who helped me with that situation because if I had not gotten out of that situation, only God knows what I would have done, because when people try and control your music, it is the same as tampering with your soul,” said Elté.

Having now come back home armed with a bit of experience garnered while overseas, Elté got right back on the horse and did what she knows best. Last year she was invited to do Christmas carols at Maitisong and it was her own way of dealing with what had happened with her contract.

“That is when other opportunities arose and I met Tshepo Lesole who helped me with my latest single Gotta Go, which we recorded in January and has been getting massive airplay on the local radio scene,” said Elté. She further said they recorded another single still in January and it will come out in September this year and it is titled Blessed.

Speaking on the support that her mother has shown to her over the years regarding the path she chose, Elté said it is unbelievable and she is forever grateful.

“Initially when I told my mother what I wanted to do, she was infuriated and told me that I was going to study business at the University of Cape Town and I specifically told her that I would rather not go to school and when it was time to go to school, I did not,” she said.

Elté said when her mother saw that she was serious with her music, she had no choice but to fully support her passion and it has been like that ever since. “Even when I got invited back for honors after getting my degree, it was the same time I got offered a record deal and my mother was the one who told me to pack up and follow my musical dream,” said Elté.

Speaking on when she will release an album, Elte said she is looking to release an EP with a minimum of six tracks by October this year if possible.

“Actually, the management that I am currently signed under want the EP by October if possible and they are also busy trying to put my single on iTunes, Amazon for people to buy,” she said, adding that the management company is in the United States.

She said some of the songs have been written and are just waiting for her to get in the studio and do her craft.

“Some of my songs will be from when I was 18 and I have written quite a few material over the years,” she said, stating that her songs are actually inspired by things that happen around her.

“Funny enough, when I am going through a particular situation, it becomes a bit hard for me to write a song about it, but if it is someone else it becomes easier for me to write,” she said.

Speaking about her single which is currently blazing the local radio scene, Elté said the song represents a transformation in her life, what she went through to become the woman that she is now. “Once in a while you have to let go of the old you to make way for a new and better you,” said the bubbly Elté.

Despite her age, her journey as an artiste is what has brought her this far. Her energy, versatility and her willingness to learn from others is what she prides herself in and Batswana will definitely get to know about her as she continues dishing out RnB sound. ENDS