Five years ago 14-year-old Tholwana Mohale walked out as one of the youngest crowned champions of SA’s Got Talent.
This month sees her debut album 2 0 1 5 nominated for Best Pop Album, alongside the likes of Majozi and Tresor.
Hailing from Steinkopf – what I will assume is a tiny town in the oft forgotten province of the Northern Cape – she graduated from the National School of Arts in 2017 and is currently studying psychology at Wits University.
Talk about a busy-body. I’d like to see where this girl goes.
2 0 1 5 is smothered in themes of high school love – put forward with the candour of a teen. Because what’s more honest than the angst and semi-ridiculousness of what you go through at 15, trying to unravel your heart? I think we can all concur.
Although she claims the lyrics carry the weight of the album, from a production point of view, the offering shines through on almost all counts.
Atypical pop takes its leads from the experimental EDM spectrum and launches forward with almost startling confidence. Toying with her range, “Ocean” sees her slipping between pitching falsettos to throaty tones.
In all fairness, although I regularly avoid the pop genre entirely – this is some of the best examples forward-thinking genre I’ve heard in a while.
It feels half radio-bred, half wholly experimental and it’s captivating as it navigates conventional hooks with warping synth and earthy percussion.
She channels pop with the fresh eyes of someone who has recognised the limitations of a genre and branched out just enough.
