15 Apr 2021

The husky-voiced Lydia Raseolo has put together a seven-track album titled: Ba re buletse, loosely translated; lockdown has been eased.

The 29-year-old Ditshegwane born muso said the album was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to the temporary closure of many music venues and the absence of live performances. 

She said she decided to name her first album Ba re buletse as a beacon of hope that after much desperation and despair caused by the pandemic everyone could now look beyond the horizon and see light at the end of the tunnel.

Slido Ras as Raseolo is fondly known in the music cycles is hopeful that soon life would be back to normal.

Inspired by big-name singers in the afro-pop sphere, she has set the fire burning at a young age as she explained that she used to perform at variety shows during her school days.

In her own admission, Slido Ras said she did not get any motivation from family, but the music was her calling.

In 2016 Slido Ras made her intentions clear and recorded a single with renowned music producer Kuzeri Kumakili, but sadly the song, which she believed would be a hit, was not released due to circumstances beyond her reach.

Slido Mos said she did not give up on her intentions to record and release her first album and her meeting with another reputable producer Disang Modise resulted in a well-crafted seven-track album, a fusion of rhumba and afro-jazz music tinged with a well-struck acoustic guitar.

The song features popular dancer Francis Kalwa also known as Coming Soon. Slido Ras has also infused her mother tongue Shegkalagari in track one Mohantjana, which means a small boy.

It talks to the boy child about life’s journey.Another song that has already enjoyed airplay in local radio stations is Ana Re Mmogo, where she talks about true love.

It is a dedication to the love of her life who had been beside her throughout the years of life until she became a mother. Though she desolately talks about the pains of losing her firstborn child in 2010, Slido Ras is a happy mother of a bubbly boy who will be turning three on April 23, the day she will be walking down the aisle with her childhood sweetheart.

Other songs from the album are Darlie Wame, Botsotsi and Katara. . ENDS