The 25-year-old Fourways resident, better known by her stage name Thato Jessica, is one of 11 aspiring artists who were selected by Red Bull Music and Tall Racks Records as part of the Lift As You Rise project, which aims to uplift South African talent.
As part of the project, Thato Jessica and the other musicians selected from across the country got to spend a week in the Red Bull Music Studios in Cape Town, where they collaborated with industry stalwarts Nasty C, Tellaman, Gemini Major, Rowlene, Lastee and Zino D on six new tracks which will soon be released to the public.
She entered the competition after seeing it advertised on Nasty C’s social media account, and has used the experience to help further her already impressive musical career. “I started music when I was about 15 or 16,” said Thato Jessica. “I was already doing poetry when I got into hip-hop, and I became the only female member of the Christian hip-hop group X-Caliber who I worked with for about three or four years before going solo.”
In 2014, Thato Jessica featured in the Chef Gustos single Take Your Time. She then released her first single, Show Me and in 2015 her Seasons EP was released. In 2017 and 2018 she released her Rehearsal EP, which consists of the single Problem. It is safe to say, then, that she was not a novice when she became part of the Lift As You Rise project.
“My life hasn’t changed that much since I became part of Lift As You Rise; it is the same old hustling of an upcoming artist,” she explained. “But the opportunity was not only a chance to learn about music, and also about the music industry. It was great working with established artists and I also got to learn about the production side of the music industry.
“I’ve spent the last few years already working, already having a plan for my career and trying to promote my brand and music and this experience is just an extension of that.” Most recently, Thato Jessica released her track Honest as she waits for the Lift As You Rise songs to be released to the public.
In the meantime, she isn’t letting up any time soon and wants aspiring artists to do the same. “I’d want others to know that the first step [in a music career] is to take the first step. It’s easy to dream about making music, but if you don’t make an effort, you won’t get far. And even if you do get opportunities, you can’t achieve anything without putting in the work it takes to be an upcoming artist. Details: www.redbull.com/za-en/events/ Lift-As-You-Rise; www.thatojessica. com; or follow Thato Jessica on her social media accounts.
ALSO READ: Nicho is a guiding light for fresh, young talent
