Tshamano S takes local gospel to another level

Read: 9197

In the music industry she is known as Tshamano S, and she was introduced to the industry with her début album, entitled Zwonaka, in 2014.

A resident of Magau village in the Sinthumule area, this singer was born Tshamano Siphei. She has just released her second album entitled Ro ima Jordan. It comprises eight songs, namely U fariswa hanga, Zwonaka, Adonai, Ndi a ḓa zwino, Vha Mukhethwa, Mudzimu u hone, Nkhwaṱhise, and Ro ima Jordan.

Tshamano’s is the kind of music that any good listener could pick up in ten years’ time from now and enjoy the sound and lyrics with fresh interest as if they were recorded and published in that future time.

“Music is part of my life – I sing about issues which concern the lives of people here on earth in order to encourage, inspire and motivate,” she said. “I also sing as a way of worshipping and praising God.”

Tshamano is one artist who has taken local gospel sounds to another level. Perhaps more credit is due to her producer, keyboardist and key engineer, DL Mabasa.

In the song U fariswa hanga, she reminds listeners that all help and protection come from God. The singer believes He is the fortress of her life and the lives of those who believe in Him.

Zwonaka will fling gospel lovers onto the dancing platform. This singer’s lyrical prowess shine through in this song.

Her rendition of Ro ima Jordan is reminiscent of the evergreen legendary gospel group, The Holy Cross Choir, who mesmerised listeners with anthemic songs such as Lizwi, Siyakudumisa, Thula nilalele and Mona Mona. In essence, the song Ro ima Jordan has a jazzy melody about it, fused with drastic samba pulses and rhythms - all of which make this album quite unique in the local music industry.

Listening to this album, one comes to a viewpoint that the singing, recording and releasing of an album are just the foundation: marketing needs to be pushed to another level and in today’s world there are neither second nor third parties who are as adept at fruitful and successful marketing as the artist herself. Unfortunately, not all artists are good marketers.

Tshamano is bound to gain greater fame, provided that experienced music promoters or managers come to her rescue.

Ro ima Jordan is one album which – if given that chance – can earn the singer more than five nominations in gospel awards both locally and nationally. Tshamano should also sustain recording relationship with her producer Mabasa, if she would like to maintain her unique vibrant sound and continue to solidify her name in the industry.

She is available on Facebook and can be reached on 072 493 2570.

By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.