There is no turning back for crooner Tlhagadikgora

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday March 18, 2010 00:00

After winning the talent show, the crooner has been working hard to realise his dreams.   Tlhagadikgora has released an R 'n' B album, which was part of his package.

He has done away with the digital systems and is now playing with a live band.  To him this is quite an improvement to his act as an artist.  'It shows that I am really growing.  You can do anything with a live band,' said Tlhagadikgora, amid rehearsals at a Marua-a-pula nightclub.  He was seen taking his band of youngsters through its pace. 

He said when you are playing with a live band, you have to rehearse for the shows. 

Tlhagadikgora said they are under the management of Maun-based promoter, Tops Masole.  Masole has been organising shows for Tebogo and last year's My Star winners. 

They are planning to embark on a countrywide tour, which will take them to Palapye, Selebi-Phikwe, Mahalapye, Maun, Gantsi and Jwaneng. 

On Saturday, he will be performing in Orapa in a show that will feature other local acts such as Vee.  As far as the organisers of My Star are concerned, they do not want their artists to be confined to the local market.  They want the artists to make it on the global stage as well. In this regard they are planning to organise shows for them in other African countries like Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe.  He told Showbiz that he is currently doing music full-time. 

His debut album has been working wonders for him.   Last year, he scooped the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) music award for the best R 'n' B album.  He was also nominated for the best male artist category.  He did not win, but to him, it was a sign that people are recognising his potential. 

'It shows that I am on the right track;  people do recognise what I am doing,' he said.   Tlhagadikgora is also working on a DVD for his album, which he expects to be on the market soon.  He talks of how his followers have always been complaining that he has only released a video of one track How I Wish.  However, he revealed that this time the DVD would cover all the nine tracks.

Besides the DVD project, Tlhagadikgora intends to release his second album this year.  'My second album will be coming out before the end of this year,' he said. 

He expects this album to be even bigger because he will be taking time to record it unlike the first one.  He is going to work with other local artists on the album to give it a different touch.  Tlhagadikgora wants to prove that he is in the music industry to stay. 

He said the debut album was meant to introduce him to the industry.