Hans Christian Andersen once said ‘where words fail, music speaks’ and hoping to echo this timeless statement is local artist Thabang Leshoro.
The artist, who goes by the stage name Teesta, has grand hopes for his music and hopes his melodies will bring comfort, love, peace and happiness to the community. He has an extended play which is out now titled King Of Freshness.
Though he was born in a small Free State town, he has called Northcliff home for some time now. Music had always been a part of his life as he grew up in a family of singers. “I knew I belonged on stage from when I was six years old,” he said. He added that it was at about that age that he started dancing and later manifested his love of music when he was 16 years old which was about the time he joined his school and church choirs.
For Teesta, it is the creation process of music that he loves so much, and being involved in its making from start to finish is something he doesn’t take for granted. “I’m such a perfectionist, I end up having so many concepts on one beat until I choose one.” Music was a love of his because it was his greatest escape, whether he was feeling down or things weren’t going his way, music was always there for him, he added.
When composing music, he likes to make sure he caters to the young and old. He noted how during lockdown he composed a song, The Way You Are with Myzo Lyza that was intended to speak to the women of the world and encouraged them to love themselves the way they are. It came as a complete surprise to him when world-renowned DJ Black Coffee gave this particular song a rating of 10 out of 10 which really amplified his confidence and belief in himself.
Teesta has been nominated twice in the 011 Awards but said his journey still continued as his hopes were to attain Sama and Metro FM awards. His five-year plan includes the ultimate goal of his podcast, Hotpot Music, becoming a space where fresh new talent can be discovered early and be given the chance to share their talent with the world ‘without going through the struggles I went through trying to build my brand or making music’.
He is a firm believer in people having their own distinct path in life. “I would hope to inspire young artists to be themselves first, and follow their dreams with no fear.”
The ambitious artist wants upcoming artists to be fearless, do what they believe in and use the Internet to learn more about the music business.
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