19 Jan 2016

With a little over 11 years in the music industry, Moletlanye ‘Trinity’ Mphoeng, who goes by the stage name of Trinity Mpho is back in the country having spent the past three years in Canada doing what he loves most; music.

Having relocated to Toronto in May 2012 and signed to FM Music record label, Trinity was on his way to living his dream of making music for an international audience.

“The kind of music I do is referred to as Afro-Jazz in Botswana and in Canada it is known as World Music,” says the 33-year-old singer from Bobonong.

“The first year in Canada was a bit of a challenge but since I was surrounded by people who were active, aggressive and determined to make me a success, it was bearable,” he said.

He said the team at FM Music was interested in his art and made sure his transition was smooth. And it paid off.

“Even though I am no longer signed to them, I still hold them in high regard for what they did for me,” he said.

He is now signed to another record label in Canada.

He played several gigs in Canada, among them the Afro Fest music festival, which attracted over 60 000 people.

“I participated in that festival in 2013 and 2015. I must say that I was very lucky to have graced it as it is the biggest of its kind in Canada,” he said.

He also did the Harbour Front Festival, Africa Night and the Canadian Music Week, among others.

His influences ranged from the late Busi Mhlongo, Jabu Khanyile to Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

“Locally, I am inspired by Nono Siile, Shanti Lo, Punah Gabasiane, Kearoma Rantao and City Seetso,” he says.

He started his career as a back-up singer for most Afro-jazz singers in Botswana.

He recorded one album and now working on new material.

“I came back to Botswana because I have projects here that I need to attend to. One was launching my video last month, which I shot in Canada,” he said.

He revealed that he would also be performing at the Hamptons Jazz Festival slated for February 27.

To upcoming artists looking to relocate abroad, Trinity said, “I think my biggest advantage was that I was willing to learn, understand the country and its people and to put in extra effort into my work which translated to me finding the success that I found”.

He said people in Canada had a huge appetite for other people’s cultures.

“Canada is a welcoming country and music is such a boundary breaker,” he said.

He said the major challenge was that it costs money to promote one’s art. Even though he was signed to a record label, he was not the only one on the stable.

He was nominated for the Black Canadian Awards under the Best African Style Artist category. Although he did not win, the nomination showed that he was doing something right.

“Another achievement was being nominated for the World Music Artist of the Year under the African Entertainment Award, which I won last year,” he said.

Trinity said  his hope for the music industry in Botswana was to see artists supporting each other.

 

He said big corporations also needed to come on board and endorse artists because financial support was important in ensuring that artists become successful. Ends