“As you navigate through the rest of your life, be open to collaboration. Other people and other people’s ideas are often better than your own. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” This quote from Amy Poehler is the driving inspiration for our feature for this month’s #SongOfTheMonth. We travel into a journey of light with Diteboho and his fellow creatives, celebrating this mellow masterpiece they’ve created titled ‘Still Waters’.
Listen Below:
About Diteboho…
Born and raised in the streets of Sebokeng, Teboho ‘DiTeboho’ Kobedi first lay hands on the keys as a member of his local church worship band. Whilst singing and arranging for his high school all male vocal ensemble and watching his father play guitar. Teboho is currently an educator at the Tshwane University of Technology; where he also acquired a BTech qualification in Jazz and Popular music. In September 20th 2021, he released his debut EP ‘Light A Candle’, a symbol of hope for the anguished who yearn for some brightness at the end of the tunnel.
On Still Waters & The Collaboration…
Still Waters is the opening song on Diteboho’s ‘Light A Candle Ep’ & features Rorisang Sechele on the vocals, Ofentse Moses Sebula on the saxophone & Phonikz handling the digital production. According to Diteboho, the record is inspired by Andris Mattson’s North E.P more particularly a song on the EP title ‘Frost’. “More than anything I really fell in love with the airy textures of the song and the space it left me in every time I listened to it. I wanted to create a song with a similar feeling so I really focused on getting the texture and mood of the song right and everything just flowed from there.”
The features on the song are close collaborators with both Rorisang & Phonikz contributing on Diteboho’s most recent single ‘Diteboho’. The pianist has found a way to nurture and develop the working relationship he has with these creative individuals to fruitful & cohesive friendships. He understands the value of each artist and speaks highly of their contribution and work ethic. “Thato, Rorisang and Ofentse are extremely dynamic in the range of things they are able to do as musicians and artists. I have worked with them on many occasions and regardless of what style of music we are working on at the moment, they are fluid enough to adapt to whatever is required of them. So after setting the mood, feel and texture for this song in terms of production I knew that they would be the perfect fit for it.”
For obvious reasons pertaining to the lockdown, most of the recordings on the EP had to be done remotely, but that didn’t take away the chemistry of the collaboration. Diteboho had the perfect plan laid out for the song to possess the same feeling it would’ve had in a collecting studio recording. “I already had an idea of how they would all fit into the song, so I briefed them individually and allowed them the space to express themselves. Outside of this record we have done a lot of work together and the atmosphere is always light and easy. I have never found myself creatively blocked when working with them, be it a studio session, rehearsal or even a gig. Beauty of the whole thing is that we come from somewhat different backgrounds musically, we hear and perceive things differently and it is those differences that propel the creativity forward.”
Light A Candle EP has been a gift that keeps on giving. Diteboho has managed to channel his production side of musical skill and give us a project that has sonical depth. It was a beautiful surprise that even he wasn’t expecting. “It’s surreal to say the least. I’ve always imagined my debut project as something completely different compared to this offering. I say this without any regret though, I laid out my heart as honestly as I possibly could on Light A Candle.” He describes it as “Meditaion, Light & Healing”. He’s been overwhelmed by the heartwarming feedback from friends, fellow musicians, family members and sometimes even strangers. It’s a body of work that is capable of illuminating the darkest moments and certainly outshines the most to top it as #SongOfTheMonth.
