23 Jul 2024

Contemporary folk jazz act, Sereetsi & The Natives, has released latest studio recording, Mmabatho.

In an interview, with BOPA renowned singer, Tomeletso Sereetsi, shared that the 10-track album was released on July 12.

Mmabatho follows their debut, Four-string Confessions (2015), Motoko (2018), and I Am Afrika (2021), which was released amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a teaser, we have so far dropped three well-received singles from the album - Petere, Gae, and Romela,” said Sereetsi.

Asked about the album’s title, Mmabatho, he explained that it celebrated the power and love of a woman. Through the album, Sereetsi pauses to appreciate a special woman in his life who had been a rock and source of strength and inspiration.

“I do not have gold and silver but a few chords and my lived truth to show my appreciation. It’s not easy being on this path of a life in music,” he said.

Shedding more light on the album, he said people were more than blessed when they had a partner who provided support on both the home and professional fronts.

“This is my small way to thank my wife, Kagelelo, for being an invaluable part of my journey. I can look back after more than nine years of doing this professionally and see that I couldn’t have done it without her,” he said.

This warm sentiment, he added, finds beautiful expression in two versions of the song explaining the composition of the song Mmabatho.

He said one version of the song was a stripped-down, acoustic guitar-heavy number complete with a choir, while the other was an electric full-band rendition that was set to be a hit at weddings.

“By extension, the song is for everyone in a serious relationship and for wedded couples as well. It is a celebration of the beauty, strength, and support of the women in our lives,” said Sereetsi.

Taking a cue from the collaboration, I Am Afrika album, he added that Mmabatho also featured Sereetsi & The Natives working with other accomplished creative.

The legendary Mosako features on the frenetically paced Rranneu which captures the stages of chasing a debt in three unique sonic movements, he explained.

He also mentioned that he composed the song in three parts à la classical music.

The idea was to capture the various emotional states one goes through chasing debts.

He also said Kabelo Mogwe of the internationally acclaimed Culture Spears stars in Polei-boe, which was a modern-day boy-hurts-girl-hurts-boy tale of poetic justice.

Also, the album featured Mma Ausi who brings her great form to Gae which champions a similar theme as Polei-boe.

Other notable numbers include Tshumu, Mme, Nako, Petere, and Romela.

He added that they had employed A-list session musicians for the project. On keys and background vocals there is Motlotlegi Koboto and Jay Chordz Mokotedi, with Lereko Lesole on bass.

The drummers are Leroy Nyoni and Dylan Lebekwe. On electric guitar, we have Thero Julian Seleka and Charlie Tshidiso Nthimole on saxophone.

For the production side, he noted that the album was produced by Sereetsi and Mikael Rosen, who also enjoys mixing and mastering credits. ENDS