Young, talented singing piano man

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday February 26, 2010 00:00

 

Bookings are coming thick and fast for the 21-year-old Kennedy Thal, who is fast becoming popular as Gaborone's finest piano player and vocalist thanks to high profile Maitisong and Gaborone Sun musicals organised by Mandi Mash productions.

As he gets down for the interview at Dros restaurant, where he had yet another date, the slender light skinned Gaborone man explains that he had to rush to inspect the place where he was booked to perform early in the morning. 'I had to go and check out the venue... I just came from a meeting because these people just called me this morning for a performance.'

For a young man attempting to break into the world of the established piano and cabaret sectors, Thal is the first to admit he has been of late getting some recognition from people and companies interested in his piano and vocal skills. He emphasise that since his February 13 performance at the Gaborone Sun, where his piano playing skills, unique singing style as well as acting techniques left many spell bound, he has been getting many calls from prospective clients.

'Since the Gaborone Sun event, I have already done two events, including a private show.  I am set to do a third show at Westwood, but I will also be doing a cabaret show with Mandi Mash's group, C12. 

The rehearsals start tomorrow. I must admit that of late I am getting booked quite often, I hadn't been gigging since last year, but this year business has started off really well.'

Reminiscing on the Gaborone Sun show, which might have opened doors for the lad, Thal says the attendance was massive, and the crowd response  energising.

There is a debate as to which rendition was the crowd favourite, although Thal himself thinks his performance in the second half of the show was extraordinary. 'That must have got the crowd crazy. I was performing in a dress, in this make-up, and I did everything with speed, and immediately had to dash and change the clothes; I thought that was simply great.'

But many would argue that when the young pianist performed one would rather goes blind, both his vocal performance and piano skills were absolutely staggering.

Thal, born of a white American father and a Motswana mother, says he acquired his piano-playing skills from a younger age. He says no one in his family actually plays music or has passion for music, but he started playing a small keyboard his father bought him as a toy.

Thal is not just a skilled pianist, he is also quite learned, having attained Grade 8 qualification from the British Royal Academy of Music. And he declares: 'I passed with a distinction.' However, he is the first to emphasise that in the arts qualifications count for nothing. ' It is the talent, which comes out  that the man in the street cares about, not the qualifications one has,' enthuses the lad who also says he is a graphic artist and photographer as well.

Thal says he has also been to United States (US), his father's homeland to do some rigorous classical training in piano and learnt the Beethoven's, and Tchaikovsky's.

Interestingly, Thal sees himself as a pianist more than a vocalist though his singing talent has not gone unnoticed on here at home. He recently sold a song he recorded to Owen Rampha of Yarona fm, while another song is set to appear in one of MJ's forthcoming album.

' My vocal talent is strictly home grown, I did not go to school for that. I can do adlibs, I can sing jazz, R&B, soul, just about anything.'

Buoyed by the support he is getting from the patrons of his music, the youngster says he is fast waking up to the reality that he has to turn what has been his childhood passion into business. I have never had a business mind in the past, it was all music mind, but now I realise I can do radio jingles, covers, corporate shows, government events, even targeting to perform at international summits. In fact I am trying to compile a DVD and a calendar to market myself among these markets,' he says.

Perhaps one striking feature about Thal is his fondness for women's attire while on stage. Why women's clothes? this is one question that has fascinated Thal's fans. But he says he is not a woman as some people might think, no is he against gays.

' No, I'm not a woman. There is a thing about performing art that you have to let go - you cannot have your little insecurities...But I have a problem with journalists who show me in a dress, as if that is all I am. I am nor man who walks in a dress...'

'Tomorrow I might be playing a drug addict, but that doesn't mean I love drugs. People's opinions are not going to change me. I love my character, I enjoy playing my character,' Thal says about the woman he usually plays in his shows.

While he hopes to establish himself as the new piano maestro in Botswana, Thal also has another eye on lucrative recording deals overseas.

He says he does not want to release a music album locally, but he has been working hard in his mini-studio, compiling hundreds of songs as demos for reputable international record labels.