MASERU — By and large music groups these days merely last as long as a monkey in a pie eating contest.
However, new kids on the block 4G have determined to buck the trend.
“We want to grow together as a group,” Rethabile “Fancy” Lebotsa, one of the four-member Afro-pop group, told the Lesotho Times this week.
“We have the passion and we are a family.”
The group, whose other members are Mahlubi “Hlubza” Kraai, Mbuli “Mazinyo” Mei and Metsing “G-man” Leseme, has certainly been together long enough.
Lebotsa, the only Mosotho in the group, first met his South African musical buds in 2005.
After four years of hard graft they released their debut album titled Free State in April.
It’s been four years worth the wait though — the album has enjoyed promising success by selling out its first batch of 500 copies.
“We sold them all in the Free State as well as Johannesburg,” Lebotsa said.
Lebotsa describes the 11-track offering as “African pop with mid-tempo sounds with a little soul”.
Certainly 4G have managed to produce a record with commendable variety and refreshing originality — from the up-tempo beats of Free State to the slow rhythms of Sponono.
“The competition in the industry is very tough. You have to come up with something unique,” Lebotsa said.
Despite being based in South Africa, Lebotsa believes Lesotho is part of the group’s target market.
“Our songs are in Sesotho, and we sing about issues everyone can relate to,” he said.
4G are yet to be signed up by a record label.
Free State was distributed by Husky Records, a company owned by Freddy Malesa, a lecturer at the Tshwane University of Technology where the album was recorded.
“It’s tough because we have to promote ourselves,” Lebotsa said.
“We were lucky to find someone who’s helped us because many artists struggle.”
Lebotsa was confident the album will be a hit on the market.
“The album is very nice, people can enjoy it,” he said.
“We have already received airplay on Lesedi FM, and I have given some copies to Ultimate FM.”
So next time switch on your radio don’t be surprised to hear the sounds of 4G bumping your stereo.
