Hotstix’s thoughts on ‘staying relevant’
Born and bred in Johannesburg, Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse says it takes a lot for any musician to remain relevant in the cut-throat music industry.
Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse got the crowd up off their feet! It had to be said that one of the highlights of the evening was this legendary saxophone playing singer though the benefit concert, 2 July 2014 at the joburg theatre start off on a somber tune it end off with a dancing celebration honouring the memory of musician Bongani Masuku and all artists that have fallen victim to violence crimes. Picture: Valentina Nicol
“I cannot discount the fact that people that I work with have really worked hard to keep me and of course I engage with many young musicians; I learn; I hear; I listen and I grow with the people. I reinvent myself all the time and I think that is what is important,” he points out.
“You get to realise that certain trends are going this way and you actually try to engage without losing the basis of who you are,” he adds.
The music legend says what will assist local artists to last longer in the industry is appreciating the talent that their own country possesses, adding that the country is overflowing with a lot of artists that have received international respect because of showing pride in being African, explaining Ladysmith Black Mambazo as one of the internationally recognised groups.
“Bra Hugh and Abdullah Ibrahim have also remained just as relevant because the international community has heard what they have done,” he said. “We must be thankful to the late mama Miriam Makeba, because she has always been central to this thread of African music growing internationally, so we owe it to her to retain the identity she has created.”
Watch one of Hotstix’s latest performances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Yuaq3NzFr8
Read more about this living legend tomorrow in The Citizen newspaper
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