Antonelle here to stay
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Wednesday January 25, 2017 16:25
Even though she is in the male dominated music genre, this energetic and vibrant musician says she intends to stay in the industry. She says she does not intend to restrict herself to house music only but she will also consider trying out other different music genres.
“I would like to do ultra house, acid house, Latin and French house and also combine our own traditional instruments like Segaba, Setinkane and Lonaka to make strictly Tswana house. I intend to release more albums and work with other artists and those who need my assistance,” she said.
Born in Selebi-Phikwe, Antonelle has released three albums in her music career. In 2014, she released an album titled, The Main while in 2015 she released an album titled Diamond and later in 2016 she released a 10-track album titled Rhythm Change.
Rhythm Change has 10 beautiful tracks like Deep feeling, Nikita, Flame, U got me, Koma, Dansa, Caught up, Nlore, Koma instrumental and Nikita instrumental. In all her songs, Antonelle sings about love.
“I can confidently say that love is the anchor. I love my music career. I love to love and I sing about love. I have decided to sing positive songs because I want people to listen to my music and relax. My music is ideal to listen to on a stressful day. It brings back the smile and can get the listener dancing and singing along,” she said.
This young woman who also has a BA Economics and Environmental Science and studies Chinese at University of Botswana, worked with some of the local and international musicians like DJ Oats, Tshepo Lesole, Simon Ramotshabi and DJ Akash from India. She said she grew up singing in the streets of Selebi-Phikwe during her childhood days in the early 1980s. In 2004, her ambition to pursue her passion (singing) in a professional manner started but unfortunately things did not go according to her plan. She then decided to focus on her studies and ultimately put her dreams on hold.
“In December 2013, I decided not to limit my challenges but rather challenge my limits. I then recorded the first track for my debut album,” she said.
The following year she recorded her first album The Main at Hi-Note music studios in Gaborone with all songs produced, mixed and mastered by Lesole. By mid April she had a complete six-track album. She said The Main was a living example of her life where she felt like enough was enough.
She explained that it was imperative for people to apply themselves and willing to do something without taking action was not enough. She said it was by going into the studio that she got to challenge her limits and in turn discovered the greatness of God in her.
Antonelle explained that she wrote, composed all her songs, arranged the lyrics and sung both the leading and backing vocals alone in all her albums. She said her music is made more appealing to the listener because during her recording, she always makes sure that she enjoys the song; carefully listens to the beat, pastes her vocals neatly to marry the beat and the vocal.
Antonelle has an outstanding record of four award nominations and has also won an award in this male dominated genre. In 2015, she won the best house and dance album during the BOMU awards.
“I am the first lady to be nominated twice in a row for a best house music album award in such a male dominated genre, packaged with talented and popular deejays,” she said.