30 Jul 2014

Determination and commitment towards his dream to be successful in life has kept 23-year-old talented and motivated Onalekitso Monnaatsheko in the music industry.



Speaking in an interview recently, Velast as he is affectionately known to his legion of fans in Maun, said his passion for music started during his tender years at primary school as well as at the cattle post.



That is where he would sing with his friends trying to imitate the likes of superstar, Odirile ‘Vee’ Sento and Frank ‘Franco’ Lesokwane among others.



During his days at Sedie Junior Secondary School, Velast engaged in the motivation and empowerment of young people through his music as well as in activities of guidance and counseling.



He managed to assist the school in behavioral change towards the use of drugs and commitment to school work and many young people were inspired and noticed that music production needs education and hardworking people.



When he completed his Junior Certificate (JC), there was nothing to do at home and life was tough, but he did not give up on his passion for music.

In 2008, Velast met some of his friends from junior school, who were unemployed and he recruited them to join him.



Later that year, they formed Vamosky Music Group with the hope that one day, they will make it big in the difficult to penetrate industry.



Velast said in 2009, they met Maun kwasa kwasa rival, Gosegomang Sebaga, known as Goddy to his hordes of fans, who showed them the way to success.

In 2010, Velast said their group managed to compete in the finals of the President’s Day Contemporary Music Competitions and got position four as wells as a total of P17 000 prize money under the Best New Comer category.



With the help of the price money, they successfully managed to release their first ever album called Tobetsa in 2012, with songs like Tobetsa (title track), Dihosana and Re golegile among others.

His love of encouraging young people through music continued as the group volunteered to facilitate a boot camp organised for junior schools in Maun in 2012.

They also performed during the rehabilitation workshop for young people involved in bullying, drugs, indiscipline, dodging school and at fund raising activities.



Velast said in 2012 and 2013, their group obtained position two in the Regional Presidential Contemporary Music Competitions and the Best New Comer category, scooping P5000 in the process.

Their dream turned into reality in January this year, when they released their second album called Sekorokoro.



That won them the 2014 regional and national President’s Day Contemporary Music competitions and they walked away with P25 000.

He said their new album is mostly enjoyed by young people and said they are strategically positioned to be good partners in national campaigns such as safe male circumcision (SMC), road safety, HIV and AIDS and health related issues.



Velast said their group’s management has shown maturity and a sense of responsibility in responding to bookings and negotiating for performances at various occasions such as weddings, organisational retreats or parties and empowerment programmes for young people.



He also stated that they also managed to open their own recording studio called J.V.K Production, which they used to produce their second album, Sekorokoro.

Velast stated that they managed to help some other new comes like Psycho and Kaly-flow to produce their albums.



“We helped Kaly-flow in our studio and the group scooped position three in the President’s Day Contemporary music competitions in Gaborone,” he said.

He said with the P25 000 prize money they won, they will strengthen their group in terms of purchasing of instruments and develop their newly established recording studio in order for them to remain relevant in the music industry.
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