Superstar releases debut album

MASERU — Palesa Motlomelo, the winner of last year’s Vodacom Superstar competition, has released her debut album.

And it’s not a bad effort at all.

She sure has the talent to get better with time.

The album titled He Keeps On was officially released in April during the launch of this year’s Vodacom Superstar Music and Dance competition at ‘Manthabiseng Convention Centre.

The first song, He Keeps On, which also happens to be the title track, is poetic.

In it, Palesa talks about her relationship with God.

The song which paints a picture of respect, trust and love seems to have been inspired by the Bible.

A counsellor by profession, Motlomelo did not let her career stand in the way of her love for music when he entered the music competition last year.

She told the Weekender the album’s title is influenced by blessings in her life.

“He keeps blessing me so the album is dedicated to the Almighty for forever blessing me and doing great things in my life,” Motlomelo said.

Motlomelo said she released the album because people were clamouring for her music.

“A short while after winning the competition, people kept on inquiring about the album and I guess because I was performing at most Vodacom events I decided to release the album and strike while the iron is still hot.”

She worked with renowned producer Khotso Thahane on the album.

The 11-track gospel album features 10 traditional worship songs and one song that Motlomelo composed, Arise Woman of Africa.

Listening to this song, which encourages women to rise-up and shine, it is easy to get wrapped in Palesa’s passion about strong women.

“The album is an exciting experience because it includes a song that I composed and it’s exciting because I never thought I was a song writer as well.”

“It is a gospel offering that is not boxed into one type of gospel. It gives the listener good news. My passion to worship and praise the Lord who influenced the arrangement of the 11 tracks.”

She said she learnt while recording the album.

One of the many lessons she learnt was to manage her time and it is one of the important things in her life.

“I have a day job so I recorded mostly at night. It was very difficult to adjust the time change because I also have a family that needs attention.”

“It was however a very exciting experience that has taught me patience and focus.”

She is now working on a DVD.

The songster said the album is not what she had hoped to release because she wanted to make it a live show recording.

“I am used to singing with a live band and I wanted the album to have that but I couldn’t afford it because it’s costly. I however learned that the next offering will definitely be a sound I want.”

The album ends on a high dancing note with traditional choruses Re haule Morena and Ha ho ea tśoanang le Jesu.

Overall, He Keeps On is a decent production for a debut.

She told the Weekender winning the competition has been a great blessing in her life but “it has brought me a lot of headache as well”.

“I lead a normal life and have a day job but all of a sudden that doesn’t seem normal as though I am now a different person. I find that very concerning because I have to earn a living because our music industry is not that big to sustain a living.”

Motlomelo said she is currently selling the album in the country.

“I would however like to see it selling beyond the border.”