There’s a quiet confidence about Tshego Santana. The kind of confidence that comes from knowing you’re creating something that doesn’t sound like anyone else. Tshego Santana has been slowly building a world of his own, with afro influences and subtle South African interpolations. With songs like “BASHIMONEY.” and “BAKA” he’s proving that his sound may take time to digest, but once it hits, it sticks.
In this conversation, Tshego Santana opens up about the slow-burn rise of his music, his gratitude toward Riky Rick, and how he’s defining what it means to be a uniquely South African artist with global appeal.
You have a unique sound. How would you describe it?
I would describe it as afro. I have a very afro sound and I use a lot of South African references and interpolations. In my music, I don’t want to make it too obvious that I am from South Africa. I want people to get a hint that I am South African through those subtle interpolations and references. My aim is to appeal to Africans as a whole.
When I interview an artist for the first time, I try get a feel for their early life. Are you from an artistic home?
My parents were in the church choir but I wouldn’t say that I come from an artistic home. Both of my parents were teachers, and they were advocates for education so me being an artist isn’t something that they understood. Wherever they are, I hope they are proud of me.
With your parents being academics, you had to be inspired by other sources. What were your sources of inspiration growing up?
I was the kid that would dance at family gatherings. I also remember my mom and I creating melodies with our by clapping our hands and we would sing along together. Those moments would bring out another side of me. Those are the earliest memories I have of music.
I started tapping into YouTube from the year 2007 and I was inspired by the videos I would watch on YouTube. I had these boujee cousins and they had a Samsung E250 and he was a big fan of Soulja Boy. I think that was my earliest exposure to hip-hop. As I grew older, I became exposed to different artists and I fell in love with hip-hop. Along the way, I discovered a lot of other different kinds of music
Your music has a unique texture. What do you credit the uniqueness of your music too?
I think it’s just me. I feel like my head is a jukebox joint and I feel like I have heard all sorts of music and patterns. Sometimes, when I listen to a song, I identify that aspects of the song that an artist could have executed better. Also, I don’t want to be mentioned or compared with anyone. I offer something totally different from other artists. I have realised that the most unique artists thrive in the game and go onto become pioneers.
What are the challenges you have experienced in pioneering a sound?
I think that’s the slow digestion of my music. I feel like people are more likely to catch up after a year. My most popular song dropped in June last year and people are only tapping in now. I don’t think it’s a challenge per say. I think it’s the way it’s meant to be. A slow pick up means it will last longer. I’m proud of that so I don’t think it’s a challenge. At the end of the day, people will tap into.
Can you tell me about the relationship between you and PH Raw X?
PH Raw X is like an uncle to me. He is someone who has been there and he has had a hand in everyone’s career’s. He is showing us the ropes. He is honing us and showing us the do’s and don’ts, which is something I need. I needed someone who has been in the circles that I am trying to enter.
If I were to introduce someone to your music, which song we would like me to play them first?
I would like you to play them ‘BASHIMONEY.’
I would play them ‘ICE BABY.’.
Ah, Dog! That’s a hidden gem! But… if you play them ‘ICE BABY.’, it will be difficult for them to navigate my sound because ‘ICE BABY.’ is from a mixtape, which is basically a playlist. Right now, I am on a mission to create a specific identity. Let’s say you play them ‘ICE BABY.’ it will be very hard to understand me as an artist.
Let’s go back to ‘BASHIMONEY’. Why do you think people gravitated to that song the most?
Because it was the first song that had proper visuals. I think people love the image that comes with Tshego Santana. I feel like they want to see the sound. The video and the song go so well together. I think ‘BASHIMONEY.’ is not just a song, it’s a package and it was perfectly executed.
Plus, you know how every artist experiences this. The song that you don’t think will do anything, ends up being the song that makes you blow up. We saw ‘BASHIMONEY.’ as a silly song. Whereas songs like ‘ICE BABY.’ are more serious. Ironically, the most unserious song is the one that got me here and I guess that’s how God wants it because I can’t explain it.
In listening to your music, a particular line about Riky Rick stood out to me. What does Riky Rick’s legacy mean to you?
When it comes to Riky Rick, it’s not even about the music. It’s just about gratitude. The gratitude and selflessness that he has. From what I’ve heard, he was someone that liked to put people first. Riky Rick was just for the culture and didn’t want anything in return. He has that giving spirit and that’s something I resonate with. Unfortunately, my giving spirit can lead to my demise. Anyway, Riky Rick was someone that wouldn’t let a rising star fly by. He is someone present on the internet and on the lookout for young kids on the rise.
You recently released a single titled ‘BAKA’ and much like the rest of your catalogue, there is a unique twist to it. Can you let us into your thinking when you created that song?
I recorded a song with the same lyrics on a different instrumental but it wasn’t really landing. That all changed when I linked up with Rillo Beats. When he played me the current instrumental for ‘BAKA’, I remembered I had something jotted down from last year. At that moment, I realised that it was perhaps divine intervention because the current ‘BAKA’, with the instrumental from Rillo Beats, is much better. The song was about my experiences as a twenty two year old in the dating pool. You are introducing your partners to your parents and your parents can look someone in the eye and warn you to be careful because sometimes you can be blinded by love. The name of the song translates to foolish or stupid in anime circles.
In closing, what is the central message that you want to convey in your music?
I’m simplifying it. Everyone is trying to be this or that but I’m simplifying it. I’m taking all of the aspects that my favourites have presented in their music and simplifying it into the Tshego Santana sound. I want to stand everything for everything they stood for but in one body.