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Music
Is she the new queen of Tshivenda Afro-Jazz music? This is the question popping up in local music lovers’ minds after Mariana Motlare released her first Afro-Jazz Tshivenda album, Nthaheleni, a fortnight ago.
Although she has been in the music industry for the past 15 years and released a number of soul albums, Mariana said she has just discovered that her inner self lies in the Afro-Jazz music genre. “Being in the music industry has taught me many things, but surprisingly, I have just discovered my new personality recently. For many years, there has been this inner voice that said to me: Go for Afro-Jazz lady, but I was scared to act. I could no longer take the pressure from my feelings and I was convinced that this is the time for taking real action. I have indeed proved the saying that perseverance is the mother of success. Fortunately, everyone who listened to the album before it was released was over the moon about the composition, instrumentals and my sweet voice.”
Mariana said the best thing in her latest project is that she wanted to be herself. “I didn’t want to imitate anybody and that is why the album is outstanding, unique and soothing to the listeners’ ears. Everybody was impressed when I performed the album at Madimbo stadium during the event organized by De Beers Venetia Mine last week. They cried for more and all 200 copies that I had on that day were sold. Obviously, this is a clear indication that the album will shake the local Afro-Jazz fraternity like an angry anaconda, whose eggs were stolen by vicious hunters. Maybe this is because the songs are based on everyday issues of life like love, happiness and sorrows.”
She said she was also surprised by the popularity of her latest album, even though it is only a week old. “Radio stations are playing it continuously and the feedback from music lovers is massive. The fact that more than 2 000 copies have been sold within a week is an unquestionable fact that I am the new queen of local Afro-Jazz music.”
A resident of Thohoyandou, Mariana’s journey to stardom started many years ago while she was still in primary school at Ha-Mutele village, near Masisi. “My voice would stand out both at Sunday school and in community gatherings. I would always find myself leading and everyone kept on talking about the little girl with a sweet voice. My life changed for the better when I met Phillip Nephawe, better known as Mutendas, and he requested me to be his backing vocalist. And the rest is now part of history.”
For bookings, public performances and CD sales Mariana can be contacted on 082 049 2333.
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Mariana Motlare.
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