Gatya’s journey from painful roots to working with John Legend
HARD work and dedication are the tools required to bring your dreams to life, including a passion for your craft.
One individual who has shown that through blood, sweat and tears over the years is singer and songwriter, Mthandazo Gatya.
The musician’s first big break came in 2010 when he won a prize on the local reality competition show, Jam Alley.
He is best known for topping the charts with his hit song Senzeni, featuring DJ Manzo SA and Comado.
But it took Gatya almost a decade to achieve a breakthrough in the music industry.
In a recent interview with Independent Media Lifestyle, he opened up about his career highlights as well as his resilience.
Gatya began singing in the choir in primary school and later in high school.
In 2009, he started recording his own music but it was only in 2010 that he realised he had potential in the music business.
Gatya said winning on Jam Alley
gave him the push he needed to never look back.
“Like most black kids, my dream was referred to as insanity and laziness by the family. I lacked support, and in the process, I had to live on handouts.
“I lived with friends because I also got disowned as I was raised by my extended family after the passing of my mother. Hard as it was, I kept my eye on the prize,” he said.
Gatya said collaborating with producers was never a challenge for him because he was prepared.
“I had already studied them and knew exactly what to expect; it is everyone I have always dreamt of working with, and I had prepared myself for when that came. I always knew the time would come because I am a spiritual person, my whole career is driven by faith.
“I always tell people that a dream is actual communication between yourself and God. What you dream of is actually God telling you what he has in store for you if you believe and work hard,” he said.
While he was enjoying the fruits of his labour, Gatya recently had the opportunity to work with John Legend after he discovered the world-renowned musician through a TikTok challenge for his song Nervous, which he provided an African touch to.
When the American singer-songwriter and pianist responded to the remix, Gatya was thrilled that he’d noticed him, which made him gain more confidence in his craft.
“I met John Legend a while back at SunBet Arena. He discovered me through a TikTok challenge he had put out for his song Nervous. I remade the song in IsiZulu and it took the world by storm.
“He saw my challenge clip that I posted and replied with fire emojis, and at that very moment, I felt something great was coming.”
“Recently, the video started going viral on X and that is when we started seeing the likes of Black Coffee being tagged on the post. He also showed interest as people were asking him to link up with John Legend and change my life.”
“The following week my manager got a call at midnight and the person calling told him that if there were any interviews scheduled for me that day he should make sure that they were rescheduled as there was something that was going to change my life.
“They told him that I was needed for a corporate gig at SunBet Arena the next morning.
“In the morning we drove to the arena and the organisers asked if I knew why I was there and I told them that I was told I was doing a corporate gig.
“They then told me that John Legend was in the country and he had asked them to get hold of me because he wanted to meet and perform with me.
“And that was the moment my life changed as we later had the song remixed by Black Coffee and it is yet to be released,” explained Gatya.
Gatya said there was so much to look forward to as he has now collaborated with many artists from across the world and has new music coming out, including a global Afrobeat EP, which he will be dropping soon.
Last year, he was nominated twice at the Metro FM Awards for Best Male Artist and Best House Song.
Gatya said these nominations meant a lot to him and assured him that his hard work on his craft was finally being recognised.
“I feel happy to be recognised, but my biggest achievement is winning the hearts of the people, touching them through the music,” he said.