JOURNEY WITH MASUPA, AKA KING MARS
mytsakaneinformer@gmail.com
MEET - MASUPA SEKABATE aka KING MARS
Masupa describes himself as a very quiet, chilled and laid back person, who grew up in a household filled with nothing but love, laughter and a lot of music. Masupa is a proud son of the soil and does not shy away from acknowledging his ancestors and worshiping God his creator. Masupa Sekabate is from Tsakane Extension 17 and is a local citizen and not forgetting to mention that he is a local creative too, who is about to become one of the country's best vocalist and musician. Let's dive into the conversation that we had with this incredible young man.
Who is King Mars?
King Mars is a Singer, Songwriter, Vocalist and Musician. Born and bred in Tsakane, popularly known as Mashona. King Mars is a child of the Bakwena tribe. A person who is so embedded in their culture and traditions.
Why are meeting in Kwa-Thema?
Kwa-Thema is a second home for me and the place we are at today is a place of work for me too. This is my sanctuary. Kwa-Thema houses the kind of creative that I am.
What are your views on the Diddy Culture, as you know that in the music industry people are promised fame and wealth in exchange for their souls, what would you say?
Well...I write music to inspire and music to help channel people's mindsets in a positive way. So what I would say is that do not give in. If you love something and you give out your all for it, do not allow anyone to ruin the goodness of your gift by accepting to sell your soul to what will end up killing your entire dream. As for me, If such an offer would be given to me, I will definitely pass.
When it comes to music and family, how is your life structured around those two aspects?
Well, It has been quite easy. I grew up in a musical family and my music comes from experiences and those experiences are always motivated by my family as I spend a lot time with my family. My late-mother was a chorist at Zion Church and I believe that I got the gift of singing from my mother.
How did you begin your brand as a musician ?
This started long back in primary and in high school. I started singing in the school choir and most of my musical inspiration came from my cousin sister who sang so beautifully at the assembly. Then one day after school, I started writing songs and then the writing later grew to forming music groups, which then led me to joining a boy band - Evolution Boys. My brand later grew as a soloist after signing out of the Evolution Boys.
What were some of your struggles with fitting in socially, especially growing up as a boy who sings while other boys were out there building iron cars?
It was a bit of a challenge but I did not mind much about what was said about me. Also spending a lot of time inside my house helped me a lot, because I could block all the noise that was going on and focused on what I love dearly, which is music.
How's your standing when it comes to Faith and Spirituality ?
My faith and my spirituality are both the two tools that I need to connect to the higher power. So for me these two go hand-in-hand, just like baking a cake, a cake isn't made by just one ingredient, but by many ingredients which makes the cake whole. So I believe that my faith and spirituality make my connection with God whole.
Any performances so far?
Yes, I have performed at the Tsakane Ekurhuleni Spring Festival, had a gig in Tembisa also. Though the Tsakane Ekurhuleni Spring Festival was a very much big gig for me, because I got to rub shoulders with some of the biggest artists in the country and that inspired me so much.
Who are your musical inspirations ?
Chris Brown!! Chris Brown came straight to mind as you asked me that. Why Chris Brown?, I choose him because he has a sound that I love and resonate with so much and I grew up listening to him, that I would imagine I am him and even tried to sing like him and sound like him and this is what led me to finding myself and my sound. Following Chris Brown unleashed my true sound and my true self.
What kind of genre/s do you do?
I am a strictly Afro-pop and Rnb musician and sensationalist.
What else do you besides singing that helps to grow your brand?
I am also a model and I have shot a few projects which I believe that are advantageous for me and my brand. Modelling also came easy because I am a gent with the looks and the height, so it just made sense that I should tap into that also.
What were parents thoughts when you told them that you are choosing music as a Career?
My parents were not very hard to tell when it comes to my career choice, because like I said I grew up in a musical family. Even though my mother has sadly passed on, my father became very supportive as time went by and could really see that this is what I love wholeheartedly. So it wasn't much of a fuss to my parents.
What are some of the life-challenges that you have faced on your journey to becoming?
I remember at some point in time, things were very hard at home and my parents weren't both working at the time and I was in matric. So for two months, I dropped out of school and looked for employment and started installing ceilings, tiles and wall-cupboards just so I could put bread on the table for my family and my father set me down and said, I should go back to school and finish my matric because life will be really hard for me if I don't have any matric. So I then went back to school and I am happy that I took my father's advice.
ON HIS LATEST SINGLE | Titled 'Umuntu Omnyama'
Mars describes the process of the songwriting as a healing journey that seeks to be a tool for soothing the hearts of listeners and a tool of inspiration too. Mars' vision for this song is inspiration, unity and education, most importantly paradigm-shifting amongst the black community. He believes that this song will highlight the importance of ending black on black oppression and support black on black empowerment.
The song is out on all digital music streaming platforms, like Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Audiomack, Deezer and more.
Having an arm long music experiences. Mars has had a long journey in the music industry with roots in the Kwaito music scene as a member of the group Abobhova, a SAMA(South African Music Awards) nominated group for Best Kwaito Album. Mars is managed by Simphiwe Mokate of Check-Inn Media, who prides himself in the work that he does, which is ensuring that the success of his star artist rises like a shining sun at always. Like Mars said, It is a lot easier when you have a team working with you on your brand, because that way it will not be easy for one to quit, because now the loss won't be one-sided it will also be based on another person too, who are investing their time, energy and resources in ensuring that your vision comes to life. Strides continue to rise and unravel as the young artist is set to continue on his journey to becoming and launching the career he is always been waiting for. Like he said, be on the look out, a lot is coming and it is massive.
follow Mars on Instagram @mars_da_planet and on Facebook : Masupa Sekabate & Mars the Planet and on Youtube : Mars , For Bookings : checkinnmedia@gmail.com or call manager - 079 331 4572
PHOTO-CRED : SIMPHOTOGRAPHY_ZA
TSAKANE INFORMER