Shanti-Lo Records New Album

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Monday September 6, 2010 00:00

 

He said once the album is out, they plan to launch it in Maun and Francsitown.  Ace guitarist John Selolwane is the producer of the album.  Shanti-Lo was belting out hits from the forthcoming album during the recent shows that he staged in Francistown and at the Botswanacraft.  By the look of things, the album is not going to be a disappointment just like his previous releases. 

Shanti-Lo has become one of the most promising local Afro jazz artists, having already released two albums.  His involvement in music goes back a long way when he was still a small boy.  He was a member of the Watoto band at the age of nine when most of his age mates were playing with wire cars.  The Watoto band was a combination of Batswana and South African musicians.  It was an initiation of Shanti-Lo's parents, his father Clifford and his gospel singer mum, Mpho Loeto.  The band often belted out tunes that were playing on radio, mostly '80s pop and South African disco along side music that ranged anything from Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens. 

In 2000 after gaining experience as a back-up singer for a few local artists, including his mom, Shanti-Lo landed a two-year recording deal with Stona Records, which produced the album Koi.  Koi was a mixture of the local brand of Kwaito.  It was all in fairness really just as a single with only three of the songs recorded for the album.   Songs from the debut recording received play on local airwaves and the newly launched Botswana Television (Btv) in its music programme, Mokaragana. 

The album even secured Shanti-Lo two nominations at the third annual Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) Awards in 2001 for the Best R'n B song Ke A Go Rata and best Kwaito song for Koi.  He also gave a stunning performance at the awards ceremony.  His manager, Katumbela recalls that everybody by then was wondering 'who this young raw talent was'. 

'Perhaps South African, many thought,' he says.

Shanti-Lo was off to a good start, seeing how local artists were rated in comparison to their South African counterparts.  It was also during this time that he secured government sponsorship to study fashion design in Johannesburg at the London International School of Fashion.  Just as well for even though fashion was not his first love, the city exposed him to a whole new world of artistic creativity and expression.  He learnt much about art, music and appreciating it in a whole new different and exciting way with each technique and craft he picked up, becoming closer and closer to his real self.  While in South Africa, Shanti-Lo and a group of young artists with a yearning to be given a platform to showcase their singing talent, founded a group called 'Live 101', an initiative led by internationally renowned drummer Philip Meintjies and his daughter, Larissa.  The group staged shows at places like Iguana Lounge/Club Eza in Bryanston, Holiday Inn Hotel in Katherine Street in Sandton and the popular Blues Room in Village Walk, Sandton. 

Shanti-Lo was introduced to the world of jazz and almost as a right of passage for every singer wanting to be associated with this sophisticated genre, would do his rendition of timeless jazz classic standards such as Summertime; The A Train and Autumn Leaves.   During vacations when he was at home, he would grace and serenade local nightclubs like Meropa Jazz Club, The Shebeen, The President's Hotel's Pula le Thebe Bar, where he met cabaret queen Brenda Taukobong.  It was only natural, therefore, that on completion of his studies in 2004, he came back home and had short stints with the newly opened Urban Night Club with Just Friends, a local jazz combo.  Shanti-Lo also staged shows at jazz joints like Satchmo's, a venue where he became a popular artist. 

His album, Shanti-Lo was released under So Hype Records in 2005 and was launched the same year at the Big Five Lodge.  Shanti-Lo was back with a bang.  All the songs, like the first offering, were written and composed by him.  This album produced hits such as Boloi.  This song was later re-released in a compilation CD by StreetHorn Promotions.  The compilation CD also featured tracks by the other artists like the late South African bassist Sipho Gumede, award-winning songbird Punah Gabasiane, Socca Moruakgomo and McCoy Mrubata, among others.

Another song Ditshwanelo, a heavy influence of mbaqanga and maskandi beats and melody, but fused with strong Tswana lyrics, was also included in the soundtrack of the Mma Ramotswe movie.  The song calls out to the traditional royal leaders to unite Batswana, eliminate tribalism and promote recognition of their fundamental human rights.  Over the years, Shanti-Lo has worked on different projects with a number of artists across all genres including the late Duncan Senyatso, and Ikajazz pioneer Ndingo Johwa.  Shanti-Lo continues to wow audiences with his poignant voice and provocative moves.