The Voice (Francistown)
11 March 2008
interview
Francistown — He has been in the music industry for a while - one of the first lot of the pop stars to pop out GC. While some have fiddled out over time, Scar is still in the scene, and growing by every project. DJ SID caught up with the young muso as he prepares to take his as one of the M-Net's Pop Idols judge.
Q. Who is Scar?
Scar is Thato Bryan Matlhabaphiri, son of two very loving parents and one very unpredictable but awesome sister. I'm a hip hop artist, student, co-owner of the clothing brand PODI and co-host of the biggest 6 to 10pm show in Africa on Yarona Fm called 6-1-ohh!! Scar is a perfectionist and this irritates me because I end up spending lots of time reviewing things over and over before putting them out there.
Q. Congratulations on being picked to be one of three judges for Idols Africa. How do you feel?
I'm over the moon! I'm grateful to be part of such a phenomenal show and I urge each and every Motswana to come out to the auditions and try their luck. One thing I've learnt about our country is we are very gifted mare it's like re emetse mongwe motho gore a tle go re tsaya. Trying never killed anyone so put yourself out there and if you're on point, someone will definitely take notice.
Q. What kind of Judge are you going to be?
Come on Sid, I'm going to be fair. I'm just looking for talent and that always speaks for itself.
Q. How are you going to take advantage of this experience?
I'm going to be visiting places I've never been to before so I think that on it's own will help me have a broader view about life and other people's cultures. That's priceless, in any language. As far as business, re tla utlwa teng. Haha!
Q. Are you going to be paid very well?
Nnyaya Sid, you'll get me in trouble le bo-Tshepo Maphanyane rra. All I can say right now though is, DRINKS ON ME!
Q. You won one of the three channel O awards you were nominated for last year. Did that play a role in you getting this next assignment for Mnet?
Honestly, I think it might have a played a role. I went for auditions and I don't know their selection criteria but I'm happy Botswana is on the map again.
Q. What tips would you give to aspiring young musicians?
This entertainment industry will eat you alive! Okay that's a bit harsh. No one gives a rat's ass what you are producing or recording in your studio if you're the only one listening to it. Burn some CDs so that when you meet up with influential people at the club or anywhere you just hand it over with your contacts. Don't start singing or rapping in someone's ear in a room filled with people because all their thinking is you are disturbing what they are there for and that doesn't make a very good first impression. And always practice your art.
Q. Lets go back in history. How did it all start for you?
P-SIDE. I was the youngest out of 31 people and they taught me everything I know. My mother used to give me combi fare everyday, and every school break - from form 1 until form 4 - I'd spend time with Presley and Goof and I'd go home around six. The music we make together is not by chance; we have a connection that goes beyond just business.
Q. Who were your mentors and inspiration?
You, Carl, Chose, Presley and Goof. My inspiration is my life and that of the people around me. I want people to listen to my music and be like, damn, I've been through that shit.
Q. Tell us about your first album release and how it did?
I met with a guy by the name of Tumelo Mokgosi because he heard me on Yarona Fm and he decided to invest in a project with me. I told him the only way this would work is if I work with the people who know how I should sound because I was really young to know what's hot and what's not. That's why to this day Goof is my engineer and Presley is my Producer. The album did pretty well because here I am, haha!
Q. Four years elapsed before the second, why?
School took a front seat because my mother wouldn't let me get lost in the confusion ya blow. Gape Kwasa Kwasa was just kicking our ass!
Q. What are the major differences between the two?
I think I'm more articulate and have more to tell on 'Happy Hour' unlike 'Illegal Act'. Gape I'm grown and have more hair. Haha! Plus I know what I want to sound like now.
Q. You have unreleased songs, which were produced by Favi and Joe Tanyala. Why did you not include them in this album?
Breakthrough/Ramco has an all in-house approach in all of its projects. So when signing with them I knew; they don't want to leave anything to chance gore if fingers start getting pointed, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Q. Some of those songs are my favourite, especially Joe Tanyala's 'Make Doe'. Are you ever going to release them commercially?
Definitely. Joe and I are neighbourhood buddies so when I'm over there we are always recording. We're planning to put out a compilation with his name later this year so watch this space. As far as Favi's tracks, you might catch them on the next offering.
Q. You have performed with almost every artist in the country. Who have you had the most fun with and why?
I've had tones of fun with Stagga. We've done shows in Namibia and some places in Botswana. Most recently we did gigs in Maun and Francistown with Ski, coordinated by Rudeboy and that was the most fun I've had.
Q. Have you ever gone on the wrong path?
I've been involved in a couple of fights and I don't think that's the way someone with influence mo baneng should behave. I'm sorry to anyone I've ever done anything violent to, even if they deserved it. Hardy.
Q. What do you consider to be the most life changing experience you have had?
The day Kast took me to P-SIDE.
Q. What's your opinion on artist who mime and lip-synch?
I think it takes away from the whole live performance idea. Another thing we need to address though is the quality of sound that's being provided at these events. I think sometimes artists are just trying to protect themselves from mikes that are not audible.
Q. You have worked with Favi, Earth and Joe Tanyala. Rate them for me?
They all have things that they particularly better at than the other. For example Earth beats are hard hitting and pack a huge punch whereas Favi and Joe can smooth it out because they are both excellent keyboardists.
Q. Are you comfortable being a celebrity at such a young age?
I'm cool with it. I just hope it doesn't build animosity because when one person goes forward it doesn't mean others are going backwards.
Q. What role does DJ Khenzo play in your career?
Khenzo is the official Scar Tour Dj. He's the only person I trust to play a set with me and not lose concentration on the women in the crowd! Haha!
Q. Who's your biggest competition?
Right now, and it's been like that for a while now... Scar! This is not being conceited or anything. I feel I put in a lot of work to be where I'm at and until someone does a fraction of that, I ain't shook.
Q. Are you handling fame very well?
I think I am. What do you think?
Q. You are. What does the future hold for you?
Only time will tell sir mare I think it's very bright. We'll just have to wait and see.
Q. Are you still in school and if so what are you studying?
I'm going back in August and I'm studying Economics. I might drop it when I come back and study something more along the lines of what I'm doing in Entertainment. Gape e thata!
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