Tsakani – Themba Masemula, popularly known as ‘Themba M’, said in today’s fast-paced world, where the message gets lost in the music, he does things differently by putting lyricism at the centre of music.
Masemula started his career in a church choir at age eight and continued singing in other groups around Tsakani.
He and his friends eventually started a band called the Canaries, inspired by US boybands BoyzIIMen, The Manhattans, Immature and Twins from SA.
They started singing formally in concerts around Kwatsaduza until music veteran Ihashi Elimhlophe saw them sing and got the band a recording deal with Universal Music.
Their first album, Kune Mbizo, features Elimhlophe on the track Phumani Emakhaya. They recorded their second album, Uyambona, with the Primedia Group, from which the track Hlabelela came.
Masemula’s backup singer and vocalist talents have earned him high admiration in the SA music industry. Unfortunately, Primedia was liquidated.
The late Jabu Khanyile recruited Masemula as one of his backup singers between 2001 and 2006. He has worked for Ringo Malingozi as his backup singer and toured France, Spain, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany and many on the African continent.
His career spans over 20 years, backing some of the SA music giants, and he features in audio and visual recordings by these artists.
Masemula stepped out as a solo artist in 2019 and started his record label, Themba M Records, where he recorded and released his first solo album, M’Afrika.
The 10-track Afro-pop solo album took him four years to complete and is a clarion call to Africans to take pride in their heritage and legacy.
“My solo project is filled with hope that my messages will reach the audience and those who wish to see SA be a better country soon,” said Masemula.
Umlomo, his first single off the album, is thought-provoking, reflecting on how a mouth is a powerful instrument that can build or destroy.
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“A plethora of African proverbs speak about the dangers of the tongue when not used appropriately. I remind the listener that it’s in their power to do what they like, good or bad.
“The mouth is a vital weapon. These days, when things are so bad, you can’t spot a killer until you see their actions. The world is so cruel you can see the devil in your eyes because their words can be so misleading. It’s only through the action that you see the real person,” said Masemula.
He added that he sings about things that happen in his surroundings, the news or his life.
“These days, while everyone is dancing, we hardly recognise lyricists – people inspired by life. We might face many challenges, but being born in a dark skin and Africa is not in vain.
“Yes, we see people dying of diseases like Aids, Ebola and cancer, but even through the hardships, we must remember our power. We are prisoners of hope that, one day, things will be better,” he said.
He recently released his R‘n’B single titled Better Together and is working on an EP due for release early next year.
“I ventured into doing an old-school R‘n’B song to put together lyrics in a beat, not only for fun and pleasure but as a way of sending a message through a single song. My mission is to bring hope to the people and see that the world has turned upside down. We no longer live unitedly,” he said
Masemula is to embark on a six-month tour in Poland in January.
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