Love for music keeps him grounded
JUST like any other budding artist looking to break into the entertainment industry, Thanduxolo "Ma-Ice” Madubela hopes to be a household name one day.
The 25-year-old NU8 kwaito artist once went off the rails, but his love for music got him back on the straight and narrow.
"I have been singing for a long time now, but I took my music seriously after I dropped out of Grade 9 in 2000.
"I used to smoke and be involved in criminal activities, but I realised I was going nowhere slowly,” said Ma-Ice.
"I then met Plasha, who made Ndingalwa Ndibebomvu. I made the song Yiza Ngomva, but I failed because people criticised the song, including DJ Slyso who was then at Umhlobo Wenene.
"But then another artist from Durban made the same song and it was well received and played on radio and on TV.”
Ma-Ice who has performed all over the Eastern Cape, is currently working on his next single.
"I do not know what I will call it yet. I might call it Vezinto Yakho or Shukuma or even Isukile Indaba.
"I have not compiled a full album as yet.
As a way of marketing myself I just give away my singles.”
He said studio time was expensive.
"The lowest rate is R160 an hour, but to get quality the cost is R250 an hour.”
He added he was determined to make his dream come true.
"I want to be famous and perform in countries like Nigeria where they appreciate my kind of music, but I also want to groom other artists. I want to be a producer or a talent scout eventually.
"I also have my own company, Own Club Entertainment, but I still need to register it with SARS. I want to use it as a vehicle to promote a positive lifestyle, festivals and invite people from Love Life to speak about positive living, and how art can better lives.”
He had some words of advice to the youth.
"They must stay in school, but persist with their dreams. Nothing is impossible.”