Setswana sweet (able) for any music genre - Kay-Zee

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Thursday August 4, 2011 00:00

 

He also believes that most local musicians, save for traditional music artists, are unable to successfully execute this because they cannot resist the urge to bring a second language into the mix.  But through his music, Kay-Zee said he would prove that it is possible to compose a song in Setswana and in turn demonstrate to the world that it is a 'sexy' language.

He said unlike traditional musicians who tend to use proverbs that come in certain dialects, his music is one that can be listened to by every Motswana regardless of tribe and area of origin.

Kay-Zee said the main reason Batswana are unable to use Setswana in a 'sexy' manner is because they do not understand the composition of music as most are just musicians and not instrumentalists.  'Most can sing and mimic international musicians as we have seen in popular shows like My Star, but when it comes to composing their own songs they fail,' he said.

Despite being in music all his life, the 29-year-old man only released his first album titled Mma Montsho late last year.  The 12-track album, which he said has been well-received by Batswana, contains songs that have been sung in plain Setswana from beginning to end.    To him Mma Montsho is another way of saying 'Mama Africa' and that Africa is the rhythm and heartbeat of the world.  'I strongly believe that music started in Africa,' he said.

Kay-Zee, who hates to classify himself as a musician under any genre mainly because of his talent to produce different types of music, revealed to Showbiz that he would like to make a House version of Mma Montsho next.

Kay-Zee said music is in his veins.  He said he grew up in a Christian family and his father being a pastor got him exposed to church music from the time he was born.  It was, however, not until he was 15 when he started producing music.

A self-taught pianist, Kay-Zee said he used to make beats for his friends while still at school.  'Back then the technology was not advanced like now so we would use cassettes to record the beats,' he said.  Kay-Zee's breakthrough into the mainstream industry came after he produced Pompa Tswidi Tswidi, a track that helped house-kwasa star Odirile 'Vee' Sento blow.  'From then I was recruited by Nuff Respect and I also featured in some local artists' songs,' he said.  Kay-Zee has since worked with artists like Mapetla, Makhesho, Ntirelang Berman and Cany Mackenzo. 

He is the voice behind Easy B's hit song, Ke Nako that was released during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as a way of hyping the event.  He recently got a proposal to become one of the resident artists at the Ghetto Blues Jazz Garden, which, he said, he is considering.