Moving a distance

 

Local musical outfit, Team Distant is eyeing a Grammy Award. The versatile duo, comprising Aaron Motlhabani aka Riise and Roy Kasale or Roy K whose work and music are getting rotation from some of the top producers across the world, have nailed a formula to getting that Grammy.

And it is not difficult to see why. Passionate and living and breathing their craft, in recent months, they have snapped invitations from some of the best spots in the continent and in Europe. “Let me say I have a Grammy. We want things that people will look at us and say they really did that. We want to pave the way for other local artists,” says Kasale. Incredibly, they have also clinched a big win in the form of multiple billboards advertising their work, splashed in Florida.

The digital billboards in Miami Florida, was for their recent release of Out of Time with DJ 4Rain, Priscilla K, and Lioness Ratang. Out of Time is just one of their productions that is winning them accolades, not only at home but internationally as well. One of their best highlights was getting and hearing Grammy award winning producer and DJ, Black Coffee playing one of their productions, titled Sesa, with Jalal Ramdani, Mr Silk Feat Mel D. The Manoo’s Touch remix is something of a dream for lovers of Afro Tech/ Tribal.

It is not everyday that a local artist can confidently say that DJ Black Coffee played one of their productions, yet they made it. Indeed, they have arrived, and are only pencilled to fly even higher. Seeing their transformation and how they have evolved into one of Botswana best Afro Tech/ Experiential duo is something else. Even spectacular is how the duo have upped the scales when it comes to their presentation. With the partnership of Studio 88, the gentlemen are now more polished and poised for greater heights.

Eyeing top venues and platforms such as Belgium’s Tomorrowland, Salle Wagram in Paris, Ibiza, and all of the big venues for Afro Tech, and house music, is not so far off for them if they keep up this formula. This past Thursday, they attended the official launch of BK Proctor’s Studio shop opening, located at the Grand Palm Hotel. Clean and looking every bit the professionals that they have crafted themselves to be, the hard work that they have put in building and transitioning their brand into an international offering was evident.

Style caught up with them for a few minutes to hear about what they are up to, and what keeps their fire burning. Speaking in an interview, Roy explains that ever since they started, their sight has been cast in the global market, which is where their focus is. He further says that over the years, they have had to learn some valuable lessons, as well as unlearn some other things. There were structures they didn’t know about, but they needed to know about. “This explains why you can see us in London and Zambia, as we have learnt some lessons.

Some of these lessons we learnt on our own while for others, we were taught by people we found in the industry. It is the vision also, what we wanted to achieve from day 1,” he explains. He also notes that where they are now is a reflection of what they have been wanting for so long. It took time for them to reach this part of their journey, he admits. “And we are still going to need to give it time because where we are going, there are many challenges. But these are challenges that we have accepted that we need to overcome. And so far, so good,” he says, adding that the global market has been receiving them. He further says that they value the lessons that they have learnt so far, and that they are so happy. Their current path, he points, is taking them a little closer to the dream that they always had.

Their vision, he says is to be able to sell Botswana brewed music to the global market, and be able to sell the culture, the food and the language. In their first songs, he explains that they always tried to showcase the local languages. “We want to be ambassadors of Botswana through music, and influence people to have interest in Botswana. We want to sell where we come from through the craft that is music,” says Roy. He also points out that they are in a third year since they stepped into the international scene.

They have given themselves a ten year goal, and it is proving to be taking less than that due to dedication and the people who are in their circle. He says that at the beginning they identified independent record labels through social media, and released music through these independent record labels all over the world. “We kept releasing music through them, and in doing that, the big people in music were like, 'something good is happening here'. And they started to pay attention to us,” he says. “Black Coffee who is one of the biggest people when it comes to exporting African music is playing our music. That also had an effect. Whatever Black Coffee plays is top notch, you know that he has taken time to listen to it. So it is that positioning that helped us.

You know certain entities would believe in you if they see being played by Black Coffee or the leading guys in the industry,” he explains, noting that this is how their fortunes tilted. This is how they ended up in Kenya, London, Nigeria (2022) and Zambia, he explains. With regards to their branding, Kasale explains that before a person can talk to an individual, they see them. He also points out that how one walks, and talks is a big thing. Body language is a big thing and that people can communicate without saying a single word.

He also says that he wants people to see them from a distance. “We have this thing where we call ourselves neat boys worldwide or the diamond boys. We shine. So, if you liken yourself to a diamond, you have to shine. We always make sure that we dress and smell good. If we wanted to go international, we needed to look the part.

We have a deal with Studio 88, it is a first of its kind, they endorsed us. For eight months now, we have been wearing everything from Studio 88,” he points out, adding that this combination sees them attracting the right people. Motlhabani adds that for growth in an industry, one needs to surround themselves with the right people who share your vision. “Imagine that you have people who do not have your vision, when you grow, they will think that you have changed. And when you surround yourself with people who share your vision, you will learn a lot from them,” he explains, adding that everything that they are today, they learnt from those people who taught them some valuable life skills. “Placement as an artist is important and our local artists needs to understand this,” he adds.

Kasale also says that they have been working hard, and that they have not released music, but that while they cannot talk about what they are up to, people will definitely see them. “It is big,” he explains. He also notes that they dream about the day they will collaborate with Black Coffee, and that this is their focus. Explaining the experimental part about their music, Motlhabani explains that wherever they travel they learn the culture of that place, and the sound. When they come back home, they try to fuse that sound with theirs. “We try to unite cultures,” he says.

The reception outside is amazing, they say. The fact that a Motswana can go and excite people who are seeing them for the first time outside the country has been an amazing experience. He also points out that in their travels, they have seen things that are difficult to put into words. It is on this backdrop that they encourage local artists to acquire knowledge, save up and join them in their travels.