14 Feb 2022

Patience and passion is what drives Thabang Molefe aka Hydro.

He held tight to these values when he first entered the music industry, allowing him to become a formidable adversary he has become.

He is a percussionist, dancer, song writer. He also plays marimba, Segaba and Setinkane among other traditional instruments.

“I have acclimatised to music and this is largely due to people who influenced me when I grew up.  I was surrounded by people who enjoyed participating in musical activities and this cultivated my passion for music,”he said in an interview.

Since then, the self-taught artist has not looked back, as he collaborated with other groups and artists to further his talent.  

His involvement with Mogwana traditional dance group was a symbolic representation of his natural ability in performing arts, which has now become source of his income.

Ever since his entry into the industry, Hydro said, he managed to build his profile adding that the year 2012, 2015 and 2017 remained the highlights of his career when he showcased his talent on the international stage.

“I am grateful for the experience I gained at Mogwana Traditional Dance group; it represented a stepping stone to higher levels given my performance in Ivory Coast and Germany at different intervals and for different gigs,” he said.

Hydro recently released his debut album, Dimapo, which mainly consists of folk music, to add some colour to his career.

The album production which has been enhanced by fusion of traditional and contemporary music, as well as a hint of jazz was facilitated by Andrew Chinganga and Mokgweetsi Kabomo at SKI Beatz studios.

Hydro stated that the decision to release his debut album was influenced by his desire to promote culture by incorporating modern instruments with traditional ones such as marimba, segaba, and setinkane, as well as percussion.

“The album began as an inspirational idea two years ago to take Batswana back to the rhythm of traditional instruments and vocals, as well as to remind them of the revolutionary sounds of the late legendary George Swabi, Ratsie Setlhako, and others,” he said.

Hydro also shared that through the album, his intention was to bring peace, enlightenment, and healing to communities through music during these tough moments.

One of the tracks, Dikeledi, basically empowers those who are pushed by life challenges not to lose hope but face life head on.

He said he was aware of the challenges that may arise along his career path, and was determined to work hard and engage in activities that would keep him relevant. ENDS