Mr Chillax makes waves in music scene in Mpumalanga
The musician anticipates an album consisting of fresh Afropop songs in spring this year. Read his story below.
A local award-winning artist, Selby Shabangu, also known as Mr Chillax, has much music to offer this year with an album and a single already making waves in the local music industry.
The independent artist dropped his latest Afrohouse song titled “Thandoluhle”, featuring DJ Divine, earlier this month.
This comes after his locally much-loved 12-track album called Protection Order. The album includes the song “Vroom Pha”. “This song was inspired by my personal experience when the woman of my dreams was swept off her feet by the driver of a VW Golf R. I thought of sharing this and realised many men could relate to such an ordeal,” he said.
Shabangu said he has not left the studio, as he is cooking fresh and unique Afropop songs for a compilation of an album to be released in September.
“I am so excited to have more music out that showcases my love for music as a versatile artist. Every day is a challenge to penetrate the industry. I hope my music opens opportunities for support and I will be counted among the multi-award winning vocalists in the country and globally,” Shabangu said.
The singer-songwriter was raised in an underprivileged household.
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“I was born in Clau-Clau and then moved to Swalala. I lost my dad in a car accident and mom did everything she could to give me and my siblings a better life with the very little she had. I am grateful to her as she never gave up on her children, no matter how tough the conditions were. She made sure that we would not go to bed on an empty stomach even if it meant mixing porridge with water and sugar, and that being the only meal of the day on some days,” he said.
Shabangu’s proud moments in music were when his song “Sobabili” received airplay on Ligwalagwala FM, affording him opportunities to perform at music festivals locally and in neighbouring countries.
“Other highlights of my music career include winning three awards from local organisations, those being the South African Community Radio Awards, the Beauty Fashion and Music Awards, and the Mpumalanga Music Awards. These awards amount to the moment I realised that my music was making an impact in the industry.”
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Shabangu said he hopes his music heals people and give them hope when love and life seem hopeless.
