Nothing’s too menial for Biblos

Musician Presley Ledwaba, known as Biblos in music circles, believes his friend’s trolley steered his life in the right direction.

As a young, ambitious musician aspiring to record his first single, Biblos had to pay a studio in Yeoville R510 for recording time. As he could not afford the amount, he borrowed a trolley from a friend and used it to carry customers’ groceries from supermarkets to their vehicles.

After raising the money he went back to the studio, but the recording time expired before he could finish the song and the studio owner told him to pay him more in order to continue. This time he offered to wash the owner’s car for the rest of the year.

“He then gave me the studio keys and allowed me to monitor the studio while recording my song,” Biblos said.

It was during this time that he met artists such as DJ Fresh and Khabzela. Today, he has five albums to his name, and his recent one, Blowing 26, is making waves in South Africa and Namibia.

Biblos started out as a dancer and backing singer for actor/musician Dumisani Dlamini of Sarafina and Yizo Yizo fame. At one point he would get paid for carrying the big-time musicians’ bags.

These seemingly menial tasks turned out to be the stepping stones that would give Biblos his big break, and he released his first album, Puntsununu, in 2003. His music has been played on TV shows such as Jam Alley, and he has toured Canada, Australia, Ireland, Namibia, Swaziland and Botswana.

“One of my most memorable performances was in Toronto, Canada, where I performed with Nigerian duo P-Square. I was booked for three shows and my last one was with them,” said the musician, who is now based in Northcliff.

His 2013 hit Phinde le Qawe caught the attention of DJ Tira, and he was subsequently featured on DJ Cindo’s Finest Lady of House Vol 5 album.

Related articles: Musician clinches award

Pop and jazz musician Thulisile Mdlalose on the rise