Tebogo Katsaitis, known as ‘Thee Dynamite’, has been in the music business for over 20 years.
The Midrand-based star shared some of her tips for longevity, after working with renowned artists such as Black Coffee, Monique Bingham, Shana and the late Lebo Mathosa. She said it is important to master your craft and focus on your goals, “Building a network and learning from others takes one far.”
Her stage name comes from the saying, ‘dynamite comes in small packages’ and is now part of her image as people always refer to her as a ‘dynamite’. “I have been told that for a woman with such a petite structure, I am a powerhouse. I am all about creating explosives with everything that I touch.”
A common hurdle for many people in the creative arts, is the lack of support, according to Katsaitis. The trick is to learn to deal with the setbacks and remember that one always has to prove themselves in life, even if doors are shut in their face.
“You will always always have to prove yourself in life, rejection is part of the game. Someone will listen to your demo, give you a record deal, bookings for performances and so forth, it takes one person to believe in you.”
The star has also expanded her role in the entertainment industry. “I am currently doing work for the community with a team of other professionals. We offer counselling sessions at a minimal fee and pro bono sessions for people who are really struggling. People have experienced challenges during this pandemic and mental well-being is key – if people are not in a good space they cannot be productive.”
Katsaitis believes in positive mental health and encouraged people to learn new skills and explore their creativity.
Details: Follow Katsaitis on all social media platforms at Tebogo Katsaitis or Thee Dynamite.
