Her amazing voice, beauty and grace, coupled with her humbleness and evident passion for her musical craft make her stand out. When she released the song, Transitions featuring equally talented rapper Zeus, everybody wanted to know who the lady with the haughty melodic voice was. The song was on high radio rotation and proved to be a personal favourite for many.
Samantha Mogwe endeared herself to many with her unique sound that catapulted her to stardom. In 2013, she featured on a Groove Cartell produced song remixed by Spirit Chasers called, ‘You got me singing’. It went on to become the most downloaded house song on Trax Source that year. Her second single, ‘You’, which features one of Botswana’s most talented female MCs Sasa Klaas, is still on high rotation on local radio stations and has received great airplay since its release mid-2014.
To seal the deal on her undisputed talented, Samantha was presented with the Best Female Artist ward at the 2014 Yarona FM Music Awards.
In an interview with One Rabantheng of Gabs FM, she said it was about change ÔÇô finding love, losing love as well as growing from a girl into a woman, hence she documented this transition of growth and maturity. “When it came to naming the album, I realised that Transitions would be fitting as all the songs on the album document a different stage of growing as a person,” she explained.
Unsurprisingly, she has come out of her own as a singer, songwriter and performer. Her much-awaited album, Transitions, was released last week Friday (March 27). The Album will be released under the newly setup Botswana Record Label, PACE Entertainment Botswana, and will be distributed by Next Music and Sony Music Entertainment Africa.
Other collaborations on the album include the rising, super talented female hip hop star Sasa Klaas on their second well received single “You”. The Album features an array of multitalented producers and artists such as BK Proctor, sensational male vocalist Franklyn, with the first two singles being produced by the extraordinary hit maker Charles “Favi” Motsemme and also the award winning Tshepo Lesole alongside Joe Tanyala. The 26-year-old songbird, is eager to reach out to the Southern African community where her work has been received well.
Samantha Mogwe’s music brings a fusion of poetry and performing arts; she was exposed to music at an early age and was also encouraged to tell stories (both her own and those of others) through music writing and poetry. Some of the work in this album shows her ability to be vulnerable and honest with her emotions, as well as find common ground with the listener. The wide array of topics covered range from love lost, to love found; questions formed from general life experiences as well as affirmation of being proud to be an African.
Samantha is not a newbie to music. She was 2nd runner up for My African Dream Junior singing category in 2003, winner of the Gabz Karaoke Idols in 2004 as the youngest contestant and made it into the top 24 of African Idols as the only representative from Botswana. She has also featured on songs with local artists such as Andreattah Chuma, Beat Premiers, Groove Cartell and Lister Bolesang, to mention a few.
The Theology graduate took a break to focus on her studies, but was not lost to music. She returned with a bang. In May 2012, she hosted an amazing solo show at the BotswanaCraft and had e-Botswana covering it. Her other show, titled Amplified was also a hit with music lovers.
The same year, 2012, Samantha was part of a creative team that worked with PSI Botswana on a video that speaks about the initiative that PSI does in this country to create awareness on HIV/Aids. One of their campaigns is safe male circumcision. This video was presented in the USA at the PSI summit and it won under the category of ‘Best Team Spirit’. Samantha has shared the stage with well-known artists such as Zahara, The Soil, Zonke and Joe Thomas and as an opening act for Kenny Latimore when he performed in Botswana last year.
Samantha Mogwe is an ambassador for SKY Girls, a movement aimed at encouraging young girls to be true to themselves and define their individuality in a non-destructive way. Mogwe is also currently studying music with the Trinity College of London, specialising in music theory and practical.
