Interview
Finding Solace: The Moonga K. Story
It’s been a year of many highs for Moonga K. His move to South Africa to pursue higher education allowed him to get into a different space, meet new people and ultimately reignite his passion for his first love – music. We caught up with him just to find out exactly where he is in the ‘journey of life’, also because a little birdie whispered to us that there is an album in the offing. Here’s a little bit of what we spoke about.
1. Firstly, congratulations on finishing the new album. How are you feeling about this new body of work?
Thank you so much! I’m beyond excited for other ears to hear this record. It’s my first album and it was originally a second EP but right before we went into the studio for final recordings, we had a whole bunch of other songs that I thought were great and I didn’t want to lose them so, we decided to keep them and make an album instead.
2. How would you define the sound on this new album?
It’s more production-heavy, but it still has the essence of Alternative Soul that we had in my first EP. I got out of my comfort zone, musically and vocally, and challenged a lot of my approach to writing which was a really cool experience.
3. Who have you worked with on this album on the production side and how was it making music with the new team?
So, Andrew Williams, who I’ve known since I was 14 years-old and who I worked with on the first EP. We’ve been a team since the first day we did music together and I really wanted him on this project because he’s such a talent and we come with such good songs together. Greg Carlin, who was the former lead singer of Zebra & Giraffe, and I started working together last year and we wrote the bonus track off FREE together. He and I work really well together. He’s got so much knowledge on the music industry and we’ve written a lot of songs in such a short amount of time which I think is a testament to just how awesome it is working with him. We wrote almost all the songs together, he produced most of the songs and mixed them as well and just to have that much help made this album a dream.
Photo Credit: Shannon Daniels
4. What song(s) most excite you on this project and why? Any favorites?
Lots of favorites! The first single, “Let Go” was the first song we wrote for the record and I knew the from the minute Greg sent me the demo that it was going to be that anthemic, dream-pop song I’ve always wanted to write. There’s a couple of interesting songs like one we have called “Fink’s Wave.” It’s kind of like if Prince and Daft Punk made a song, that would be it. There’s also this cool one with a rad horn section called “Tragic” that’s got a lot of soul to it. There’s also this interesting funk song we have that we needed a female rapper on and we both remembered Tazz from seeing her on MTV’s YouGotGot, so we reached out to her on Instagram and she came through and gave a monumental verse on the song and she’s the only feature so, I’m so excited for people to learn more about her and feed off her vibrant energy!
5. What’s the name of the album and what inspired it?
Wild Solace is its birth name. It’s a concept album about finding peace within the chaos of all of life’s good and bad things. I originally wrote a screenplay for a coming-of-age indie film with these songs and each song tackles issues like self-discovery, death, unrequited love, happiness and everything in between. FREE was more about self-introspection whereas this record is not just my stories, but my friends, family and strangers’. We’re all trying to navigate through the crazy and peaceful parts of life and that’s kind of where we become residents of the Wild Solace world.
6. What do you want people to take away from this body of work?
That you’re never alone if you’re in love but that person doesn’t love you back, or mourning the loss of someone important to you doesn’t make you overly emotional, and that you can change your life at any moment if that makes you happy. We’re all trying to find our place in this world, and it’s nice to have something to listen to that you can relate with and that’s what I aimed for this project and all my music.
7. How has the re-release of your EP done for you career wise?
It’s garnered so much support from different parts of the world, especially here in SA! Meeting Karl Anderson back in February and forming this partnership with Apple Music has been a massive blessing. It’s not every day that a huge platform such as Apple Music and iTunes can be so supportive to a new artist but they’re helping get my music heard by new people and it’s gotten me recognition, gigs and a lot of courage to keep pursuing music.
8. Album drop dates?
January 26, 2018!
9. Are you going to be performing some of the new music at your upcoming shows
YESSS! We’re going to test them out at Rocking the Daisies and Oppikoppi, with the songs from the EP as well, but my new band have brought the songs we spent months on in the studio to life in a beautiful, gorgeous way and I’m super excited to perform them!
10. Are there any videos/visuals we should be looking forward to?
I really hope so! I would love to bring the screenplay for the album to life and we’re hoping to get a budget for it, but it’s been in the works with talking to directors and getting a whole bunch of creatives that I’ve met this year involved so, definitely excited to get that part of the journey going!
11. Where will the album be available and how can people follow you
My music will be available Apple Music and iTunes, people can also find my current release Free: The EP on there. Please follow me on
- facebook.com/moongak
- twitter.com/aestheticmoon
- instagram.com/snt.moon
12.Any last words
Thank you so much for supporting me and the music from day one! I always appreciate the support from EBW and I can’t wait for the readers to hear the music and hopefully jump on this train with us!
Creatives
From Morwa Kgatleng to the World Stage: Frostbite’s Journey and Vision for Creative Expansion
- Meet Frostbite, the multifaceted artist hailing from Morwa Kgatleng, whose journey from humble beginnings to international aspirations is nothing short of inspiring. Starting with a passion for music ignited in his early years, Frostbite’s path led him through talent shows and DJ mentorship under the esteemed Dj Oats of House University. But Frostbite’s creativity didn’t stop there. Embracing photography and event curation, he carved his niche, earning the moniker ‘Mr20K’ for his ambitious photo challenge. Today, Frostbite shares insights into his creative process, collaborations, and plans for global outreach, embodying authenticity and determination every step of the way
- Introduction: As a multifaceted artist known for your prowess in DJing, event curation, creativity, and photography, could you share a bit about your journey into the creative world and what initially sparked your passion for these various forms of expression?
- Frostbite. Boy from Morwa Kgatleng. Started singing at an early age, entering talent shows and winning a couple. Passion for music was born there. Started learning how to dj in 2006 under the tutelage of Dj Oats(House University). Spilled over to varsity when I went to Monash South Africa and was put in charge of the school sound system. Made it easier to get involved in various school activities where I got to hone the deejay skills. Came back from Monash and was jobless for a bit. My best friend Kabo Olesitse was already making a name for himself as a photographer. I shadowed him for a bit and when he got new equipment, he gifted me his old camera. I then embarked on a challenge to take 20 thousand pictures in one week, for free. And the moniker Mr20K was born. Registered a company in that name and we started doing event photography predominantly.
From Morwa to the World. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/XEfaOdJGNz
— Mokgatla Thoo Thoo (@FrostbiteBW) February 16, 2024
- Walk us through your process of creative actualization. How do you transform your ideas into tangible projects or experiences.
- Creative actualization has been easy for me because I surround myself with creatives. I believe in collaboration so much because I’ve seen what happens when great minds combine. So I get an idea and I bounce it off the people around me who then help me make it a tangible product. I’ve conceptualized shoots, music videos, songs and actual events that have come to life because I never worked on them alone. I watch a lot of movies, I read a lot and from these many mediums, ideas become a dime a dozen.
- The BW industry is tough, What excites you about creatives and being a creative in Botswana right now?
- To be perfectly honest, the excitement has been lacking lately. There seems to be more hurdles than actual wins. But as is the case with everything in life, commitment and consistency matter more than the excitement. Putting in the work is paramount, even on the days it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it. People can ignore you but they can’t ignore your work. In the words of my brother Stuga, ‘Nobody cares, just put in the work’.
- When conceptualizing events or projects, what factors do you consider to ensure they reflect your artistic vision authentically? Are there particular themes, messages, or atmospheres you aim to convey through your work?
- I study trends. Global trends. But I learnt the hard way that global doesn’t always translate to the local market. So I try to copy what works and discard the rest. Like I said, I’m big in collaboration so that’s a recurring element in everything I do. I believe that the only way to eat from this industry is to first make the pie is big enough for a slice not to be crumbs. I’m also very much against glamorizing what we do by seeming to portray an image that we’re caking when we’re not.
- Reflecting on your recent endeavors, is there a project or collaboration that stands out as particularly fulfilling or challenging? What did you learn from that experience?
- Recent endeavors. I’d have to say my proudest moment was when we formed RNB On The Lawn with my brother Obameng Tshukudu aka Ryno On Decks. We started so small and by the end of the year it was a full on movement. I’m very passionate about the genre and to see it grow like that was beautiful to watch. So much so in fact that I got the attention of Strictly Soul, Africa’s biggest R&B party. Just got back from rocking one of their events and it was really really affirming. Made me feel like I was on the right track. That is the highlight of my year thus far.
The biggest lesson here is that as creatives, we should not just focus on the artistic side of things, but learn how to do the admin/business side of things. Your rights as an artist. Intellectual property etc.- How are you staying ahead of the curve while maintaining your unique artistic voice? Are there any strategies or practices you find particularly effective?
- Authenticity is my strategy bro. I do what I do the way only I can do it. My voice is my voice and my sets are my sets. That’s why I don’t mind sharing my folders with upcoming djs because even if I do, they won’t play like I play. Im unapologetically me, which I’ve been told is a disadvantage. Been told I think too much of myself, im too arrogant. But where has humility gotten us Obie? We must be vocal about our talents, our capabilities.
- Building a strong brand identity is crucial for artists. How are you cultivating and expressing your personal brand across your various creative ventures…o kgona hang?
- Building myself up as a brand is something I find particularly challenging. Because as I said earlier, I’ve focused more on the creative side and completely ignored the other things, the image and the content. So I’m trying to work more on that going forward. The idea is for the name Frostbite to be synonymous with R&B in the country as well as the continent and to that end, I think I’ve done a more than decent job.Like I said, I’m not scared of putting myself out there. The worst thing I can get is a no. And we keep it moving. I send out emails with my profile and press kit. And cross my fingers.
- Re a itse gore o a opera. Have you considered releasing your own music in 2024?
- I’m in studio with Fella presently. My boy Melo and I are cooking. Ohmz The Don too. Also trying my hand at house music with a project le Dj Kzar in the works. This is the year I throw everything into this.
Can you share some highlights from your recent gigs ko ntle ga BW?
here’s really only one gig I’ve done outside so far and that’s the Strictly Soul event. From the onset, the most glaring difference was how free the crowd is. Uninhibited. Vibing and singing along to the music at the top of their voices. Whereas here, people are more reserved. They enjoy from the comfort of their seats.
- What are your plans for expanding your presence internationally? Are there specific markets or regions you’re eyeing for future endeavors, and how do you plan to approach them?-
- 😂😂I want Africa brother. Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania. Those guys are well connected the world over and chances of being spotted are higher. R&B is nostalgic. It’s universal. It’s more than a genre, it’s a feeling.
- Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of your career? Are there any upcoming projects or goals you’re eager to pursue in the near future?– Brother, it’s about the music this year. It’s about growing RNB On The Lawn. It’s about working with brands that align with who I want to be seen as. Music. Fatherhood. Food. Visuals.
On this, the debut episode of #EBWOddcast‘s Season 2, we talk to @PoppyLSello about her journey as a Writer, Creative, a #WomanInMedia who is carving a path in the #BWMarketingSpace. Stream the new season where we explore Poppy’s #OddsAndEvens now!
EBW is a Botswana creative & culture platform, that delves into the minds of a daring generation. Odds & Evens is our theme for the Season 2 of the Oddcast, we’re getting into conversations & celebrating creatives who we admire from across Botswana. We explore their business, talents, thoughts, dreams, visions about work and so much more.
Oh man. To say we are excited to share this conversation with you is a huge understatement, it’s a conversation we had a while back with a really impactful and awesome creative. A multi-talented voice of a generation who graced our platform with all the presence and conversation worth having, it’s Tanlume Enyatseng of #BananaEmoji on the 7th episode of the #EBWOddcast. We cannot believe we’ve come this far!!!
