Volume 52 Issue 08 - August 2014 : Entertainment
Lucretia Chima’s five minutes with Jazz’s finest Kearoma Rantao
Author : Lucretia Chima
NAME: KEAROMA RANTAO
D.O.B: 13/ 02/1978
HOME VILLAGE: RAMOTSWA
MARITAL STATUS: SINGLE
MUSIC GENRE: Afro Jazz
ALBUM(S) RELEASED: One titled When the Music plays
WHEN DID YOU VENTURE INTO MUSIC SCENE? I entered the music industry in 1999 though I released my debut album When the Music plays in 2012. I was a novice and wanted to wait for the right time. I started as a lead singer for Ex-Cut Edge music group. In 2008 I worked with Black Money Makers and left them that same year. Later I joined other female jazz artistes to form Ladies of Jazz ensemble.
WHICH INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY? I sing, my voice is my weapon.
ANY CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED? I must admit our industry is growing though the local music scene is still faced with several tests such as lack of music distributors, lack of music agencies and absence of record labels. To date, artistes are still managing themselves which is not healthy.
DO YOU HAVE FOND MUSICAL MEMORIES TO SHARE? Oh yeah, winning three awards out of the four nominations during the Botswana Musicians Union (BOMU) 2013 Awards was awesome. It spurred me to know that I have something that people want.
HOW HAS WINNING THE AWARDS CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Well, I am more recognisable and recently I went to Dallas where I was nominated for the African Music Magazine Award in Best Female Artist from Southern Africa category. I realised how important it was to create good music. I am adjusting to the attention.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS? I want to make a name internationally and my desire is to start collaborating with foreign musicians. My recent trip has afforded me a platform to network with foreign promoters which will help me to penetrate their markets.
WHICH INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN DO YOU LOOK UP TO AND WHY? The late Miriam Makeba, she was an amazing singer who used her music to change lives. She has left a legacy.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? When I am not going to gigs or in studio I spend as much of my time with my family, mind you, I am a mother. Family is important to me too. Other than that I love travelling, exposure is educative.
WHEN SHOULD WE EXPECT YOUR NEXT OFFERING? Come 2015, it will be landing on shelves. I intend to feature international artistes on some of the tracks to give my music a touch that can appeal to all. Ends