On the ‘SpotLight’ this week, we have the ‘multi-talented’ Mawande Kheswa. Some of us have seen him on e.TV Sunrise as he is their News Anchor. Most of us know him as an up and coming music producer who is passionate about ‘youth development’ within the creative industry. With all that on his table, Mawande Kheswa also manages to ‘bless our souls’ with his weekly 100% House Music Radio Show ‘Radio Soulheadz’. ‘Ladies and Gents’, this is what went down on our ‘one on one’ with Mawande Kheswa …
ShoMag: First of all thank you for taking some time out for this ‘one on one’. Can we start by asking who is”Mawande Kheswa” and where is he from?
Mawande Kheswa: I’m a young ambitious ‘music producer, News Anchor, Radio show host and part time Dj’. Basically I’m a creative who loves music and sending out positive vibrations through sound. I was born in a Township called Gamalakhe close to Portshepstone in the South Coast of KZN, South Africa.
ShoMag: One can do a lot within ‘Mzansi House Music Scene’, what would you say is your involvement within this scene?
Mawande Kheswa: My job is to ‘groom and develop aspiring musicians’ as well as to give them a platform to use their talent. Quite often getting on radio and tv is a mission for house producers and I want to play a part in changing that. On a broader scale I recently produced Thiwe’s upcoming single and I’m definitely going to contribute more towards the South African house music scene.
ShoMag: When did you notice that you had ‘passion for music’ and out of all the ‘music genres’ one can pick from, why choose ‘house music’?
Mawande Kheswa: Well my sisters told me that when I was younger I would cry a lot like any other baby. So when I cried they would play Keith Sweat because they noticed I’d keep quiet whenever I heard his songs play. LOL weird I know. So it was evident that there’s ‘something in music that captures me’. When I was in high school I got introduced to ‘FruityLoops’ and started playing around with it. I befriended a guy called ‘Gregory Banks’ who was a super producer and DJ. We then started a band called ‘Radio Soulheadz’ and I never looked back. So in essence what drew me to house was my fascination.
ShoMag: ‘Big Up’ man on your new radio show ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’, really ‘great show’ you have going on there! Can you tell us more about ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’, what sort of show is it and what are you looking at achieving with ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’?
Mawande Kheswa: Thank you I’m glad you think so. ‘Radio Soulheadz’ is an online station, some may call it a podcast but I like to call it what I see it as in my vision. At the moment we have the ‘100% House Music Show’ dedicated to this genre we love so much. It started off as a 45 minute show and then moved to an hour and ‘we now broadcast for 2 hours’. It’s a live show. I wanted to have something distinct and inspiring. The aim was to develop not only myself but the youth and artists. You see that platform is not meant for one person’s benefit but the communities benefit, be it the house community, unemployed youth who can work with me or people who just enjoy house music. I want ‘RSH’ to become a show that artists want to be on, a show that broadcasts from all over the world, a show that employs and empowers deserving youth based on ‘their potential and not popularity’.
ShoMag: What was the inspiration behind ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’ and why did you choose to have the show broadcasted over the internet?
Mawande Kheswa: Well one day I was telling a friend about what I’m passionate about and the fact that I’d love to be on radio. She then asked me what’s stopping me from being on radio, I told her that unfortunately ‘T’bo Touch hasn’t DM’ed’ me so there’s no job. I then told her I had an idea of starting my own show and she basically got me to do it the following day. I’m an advocate for ‘creating and developing things using the resources you have’ so broadcasting over the internet meant I could have a show that people can listen to all over the world using my smartphone. For me that’s a major innovative idea. Over 80% of the South African population has access to a smartphone, even though data is expensive but you do have a niche that can access and stream the show. After all you are looking at using 80mb or so streaming the 2hour show.
ShoMag: We have seen a couple of ‘Online House Music Radio Shows / Stations’ come and go. What sets apart ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’ from any other House Music Radio Show / Station out there at the moment?
Mawande Kheswa: Let me start with some distinctive features on the show. We have 2 30-minute mixes, ‘Unshazamable’ where we play 2 exclusive and unreleased tracks from an artist. We also have a ‘weekly interview with a DJ/Producer’. Now the aim of the mixes and interviews is to promote the DJ/Producer which is why I always ask them to include booking information because the show has to contribute to your growth and livelihood.
All songs playlisted are accompanied by the ‘original artwork and link to music stores’ for purchase. This is done to promote the artist and drive traffic to music sites. Establishments can also pay for the show to be ‘broadcast live from their premises’, events etc and they can also book DJ’s through us. As a show we also have producers who offer ‘remixing, sound engineering and music production’. We also do our own events and work with up and coming creatives. These are all ingredients that set us apart.
Our mission is to become an academy that ‘develops, upskills and trains creatives for the work environment and also to become self-sustaining’. We aim to change the ‘culture of granting opportunities based on popularity’.
‘Passion, potential, talent and drive’ are the characteristics that we believe form the foundation for the standard by which opportunities should be granted. We are doing all of this using ‘house music as a vehicle’.
ShoMag: Exciting times indeed, what can your listeners look forward to from ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’?
Mawande Kheswa: ‘Beautiful music, good times, growth, international collaborations’ which we will bring back and ensure that they benefit South African soil. We also have an album coming out and it’s titled ‘Unshazamable Session 1’. We’re also going to be collaborating with musicians, producers, DJ’s and hopefully your blog as well. More and more content that is geared toward the listener.
ShoMag: Besides being hands on with ‘Radio Soulheadz (RSH)’, are there any other ‘musical projects’ you are currently busy with or cooking up?
Mawande Kheswa: Besides the ‘RSH Unshazamable Album’ I’m going to be working with a number of artists including ‘Thiwe’. I’m always on the lookout for vocalists who I can produce for.
ShoMag: We are aware that you are passionate about ‘creating opportunities for the youth’, therefore what would your advice be to the youth ‘on following their dreams’?
Mawande Kheswa: ‘A dream can sometimes come in the form of a nightmare, but like everything bad nightmares can be overcome’. I personally have had many dark times, but the key has been ‘prayer and knowing what I want’. I don’t generally conform and that’s always gotten me through. I broadcast a show on my smartphone and that alone is outside of the ordinary. Use each and every one of your skills, start where you are with what you have, ask for help, be able to filter advice and use what will benefit you, have all of your dreams on a vision board, it really works.
ShoMag: Any last words from your side as we get ourselves ready for what seems to be a ‘jam-packed bumper of a year’?
Mawande Kheswa: I’m inspired by your magazine and the quality of work, this is further proof that the youth of South Africa is really talented and they dream. The key is access to opportunities and us working together to create more platforms and opportunities that we will feed not only our kids but the community at large. ‘I would love to get to a point where the youth to view themselves as a community of helping hands and not competitors’.
Thank you for this opportunity and I wish you growth and all that you desire.
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Bookings: radiosoulheadz@gmail.com