Music

The musical journey has not been easy for a talented house music artist who started off by recording himself using “radio tape” for enjoyment.

“It was around 2004 when I first recorded my demo at Willy's Music Production in Brakpan,” he recalls. “Listening to that demo often afforded me a critical ear, so that I was able to to hear my flops and seek ways to develop my music as an up-coming singer. However, I did notice some promising quality as a singer in the material contained on that demo. So I gained some courage to face more studios with my work and I finally approached Masana Records in Soweto.”

Black Poison arrived at Masana Records, but he had no money to record his music. So it took him about three years to record and finish the songs that were finally compiled together on his debut album, Zwi Do Luga.

“Zwi Do Luga talks about hope and courage even when things don't seem to favour us,” he says. “It teaches us never to give up in life because life can only be too short if we allow it to be too short with our laziness and failure to focus on the positive side of life.”

Black Poison felt that he needed to establish himself fully as a singer with a strong voice in society. “I joined Loudly Comix Records where I completed an album called Mbilu Yanga, which was released some two months ago,” he said. “I hope this album will pave my way up there in the music industry.”

“People think house music is only for the youth for partying and dancing, so my music is for all generations,” he said. “It has all you want: a message, and you can dance to it too.”

A resident of Khakhanwa village, Black Poison has always been in love with music and it was the reason why he was moved by the sounds of the legendary reggae artist Colbert Mukwevho from an early age.

“I like Cobert Mukwevho for the good messages in his songs,” he said. “As a reggae artist, he has transcended the ordinary and used his creative skills to give us a combination of sound and lyrics which speak directly to our hearts.”

For more information, call 061 323 0386/ 073 209 8912. Black Poison is also on Facebook as Fhatuwani Black Poison Mbau. His e-mail address is [email protected] .