27 Jul 2014

The first time Slangwizzy tried it in the music arena, he hit a dead end. 

He had hoped his maiden mix-tape Batlhanka ba motswako would challenge music lovers especially that he featured his childhood friends A.T.I and Pk Maada in some of the songs.

But the 2011 attempt, which had beautiful songs like W.B.W.B , came and died quietly. So it was back to the drawing board for him.

When he finally dropped his debut album Fishing for candy in 2013, he had no plans of burying another album. What came out was amazing and his fan base – both on land and online - has been growing ever since. 

BOPA’s Lijeng Ranooe recently bumped into him and not only got a peep into Slangwizzy’s music mind, but also got to learn he was working on another album Fishing for Candy II.

LR: First of all, what is Slangwizzy’s music about, what sets you apart from other artistes?

SLNZY: I try to make my music life sound tracks. I make music that can resonate with people, music about timeless experiences and candid moments in my life. What set me apart from the rest is my close connection to the visual arts. I’m a visual artist and I understand videos.

LR: What inspires you to make music? 

SLNZY: What inspires the music, is finding out the truths of life. Things I didn’t know before. Be it with family, the women in my life, fashion and even school and growing up a lot of things contribute to it; the people around me, the energy I get. The type of energy I feel translates into my music. I always get the mojo from the experiences. I love music and especially love movies. I want my music to be able to appeal to a loner and make them share my color, and in these exciting generation of technology and internet. I absorb so many influences and have a wide area of influence.

LR:What is the driving force behind your lyrics? 

SLNZY: I’m trying to make songs that evoke emotion. I want you to listen to a song and be able to relate to it. Whether it’s an experience you had with a lady , an achievement , or it’s something dealing with the past or a regret , basically everyday stuff. 

LR: What makes you continue to make music?

SLNZY: I feel like for one to be an artiste it’s something they choose to do, it comes from a higher power, it’s something they are designated to do… I was always good at a lot of things but, I found myself sticking to music because it is what I enjoyed doing. Instead of drinking and partying I would be on the computer composing beats and just recording. That’s where the passion comes from… its God given. I have this talent and I am doing it.

LR: In your opinion what makes good music?

SLNZY: The truth makes good music. If you’re telling the truth nothing can stand in your way, you can rap a bout whatever you want but if you’re telling your story accurately people will be able to relate.

LR: What genre would you say your music is? 

SLNZY: I hate putting myself in a box by saying that I‘m doing a certain type of music because I‘m really not. I fuse a lot different genres together, but all in all my music is Motswako, because it has influences of hard core hip hop and classical music.

LR: What would you want people to know about your music? 

SLNZY: I want people to know that my music is good and has a positive meaning behind it and there is a genuine connection there, especially looking at the way I grew up, my values and priorities. Music is very intimate, when you listen to your favorite song it has sentimental value and it means something to you and you would want people to relate to it. I also want people to want to see me perform whenever they hear my music.

LR: What does fishing for candy mean?

SLNZY :Fishing For Candy is a very sentimental title to me, it has a dual meaning ... and I’m only willing to share the surface meaning which translates to expecting good things to come in the future … fishing- meaning searching. Candy- meaning something pleasant. 

LR: Tell me about Fishing for candy II and how it is going to be different from your first album? 

SLNZY: Fishing for Candy II is my take on the flip side of the foundation I’ve already laid with the previous record. I’m back with a bang. A lot more comfortable and ready to air out my thoughts; It’s a lot more aggressive and there are moments of confidence and paying homage to those I feel are deserving it. I feel it’s the next chapter of my story. I’m able to express my worries on the album.

LR: What are some of the challenges of being in the industry? 

SLNZY: Firstly just copyright and intellectual property because these days music does not really make money because of copyright violations. I think the challenge is selling your music out there because we share it and post it on social website and people share it for free. They don’t really buy but download for free.

 One other challenge is the lack of ambition that I see in the music industry. 

Most artistes are home performers… there is not really much of a market here… we should be able to go out and explore. However Botswana’s music industry is growing and it doesn’t take a lot for you to get noticed… all you have to do is get your songs on radio and do a couple of performances. It’s a very small market. 

LR: What do you want people to know about the music industry?

SLNZY: People should know that the art is not for the faint hearted. It requires sacrifice which may sometimes make you out to be the villain when speaking up for yourself. Music has made me paranoid, and has alienated me from family and friends, but it’s my fate and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

That’s why I just released a documentary on YouTube tilted Intellectual Property: Copyright- by Slangwizzy to add my voice to the public debate and help the industry grow.

LR: Do you consider yourself more of a producer or an artiste? 

SLNZY: I consider myself a creative genius, in both my production and artistry. I’ve hit equilibrium with the two. But often in find myself producing for people than I do for myself. I do a lot of things. I’m a student, I shoot documentaries; it’s a lot sometimes and I go long periods of time without releasing any music myself; which is why I can’t wait till Fishing For Candy II comes out on January 31 , 2015 . It’s long overdue. 

LR: Where do you see yourself in five years?

SLNZY: I see myself doing things in television. I’ve shot a documentary that is online right now so I want to continue to do film projects. I’m going to be dropping visuals for some of the track from my first album. Musically I haven’t even started…I am aiming for the pinnacle; I have big dreams that I’m working towards. Hopefully I’ll be a house hold name by then. ENDS