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Matsiari MJ sings about issues that concern all people.

Living in the Modern World

 

The stage name Matsiari MJ may sound unfamiliar to some people, but it echoes musical excellence, relevance and quality sounds to those who have been introduced to his music so far.

A resident of Eltivilas in Louis Trichardt, Matsiari is a qualified, long-serving teacher by profession. He told Limpopo Mirror that he became involved in music when he was doing Form One around 1978, when a friend named Thomas “Dollar” Makhubele constructed a simple guitar from old debris and taught Matsiari how to play it.

After about four decades, Matsiari released his début album, entitled Living in the Modern World. The songs on this album are Walk your journey, Living in the Modern World, You don't choose your family, Swimming against the cultural tide, Xenophobia and Afrophobia, This is your life, Money and Far I have travelled.

“I composed the songs between 2013 and 2016,” he said. “Music composition is not easy; it needs one to work even harder to reach excellence.”

He stated that his music spoke to people of all ages as it was in the first instance intended for them. “Some tracks directly speak to the youths; some to adults; some to couples and others to the general members of the public,” he said. “My music advises; it inspires, motivates and guides.”

His style of music is diverse: it consists of classical vibes mixed with African jazz and Afro-pop. “The subject matter of my music is life as a journey started by our parents,” he said. “Everyone has to walk this journey.”

So far, Matsiari has just finished working on at least 10 tracks for his new album, which is due in the second half of this year. “It boasts tracks that will make you shake your body,” he said.

His inspiration comes from offering help to young, up-and-coming artists. He started doing that kind of voluntary work after realising that a lot of music talent exists among the youth that needs to be nurtured. “This is more evident in the youths’ involvements in music activities within churches,” he said.

He stated that he loved listening to music across different genres. He spoke fondly of Oliver Mtukudzi, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Dr Shinyori, Hugh Masikela and Tshepo Tshola.

Living in the Modern World is available from good music stores and directly from the singer. He can be contacted on 078 665 8645.

Entertainment - Date: 11 March 2018

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Matsiari MJ's CD sleeve.

 

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Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]

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