By Matṧeliso Phulane
Talented local artist, Thato Molupe, has hit an incredible purple patch.
Just in one month, his album ‘Manothi’ which has recently been gushing on social media, reached over 500 000 streams on Spotify.
Famously known by his stage name Wave Rhyder, Molupe has certainly raised the bar with this achievement.
The 25-year-old artist was born and bred in Morija, Maseru. He got his stage name from his uncle, means he is on top of things and riding the sound waves.
Wave Rhyder is a songwriter, singer and producer who recognised his love for music at an early age, inspired by his parents, who are both gospel musicians.
His decision to start out in the industry with Hip Hop as his first genre shocked many given the strong gospel influence from his parents who have seen his musical journey grow from strength to strength.
Wave Rhyder unleashed ‘Manothi’ last month, an album steeped in authenticity and innovation. One thing is for sure – it is set to captivate audiences worldwide.
Rooted in the rich musical traditions of Lesotho, ‘Manothi’ is not merely an album but a homage to Wave Rhyder’s upbringing heritage.
The title, derived from colloquial expression “hona ke manothi” meaning it is a beautiful song, pay tribute to the original and traditional Famo music that echoed through his childhood.
Spotify is an audio streaming service that offers users access to music tracks, podcasts, and other media through a subscription model. It is a publicly traded company that was founded by Swedish entrepreneurs Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon in 2006.
Placement on Spotify playlists increases the visibility of an artist’s work, exposing them to a wider audience.
The channel also offers artists a platform to monetise their music through streaming. With its compensation model, artists can earn royalties based on the number of streams, providing them with a sustainable source of income.
Apart from that, it boosts careers as inclusion in prominent playlists can serve as a catalyst for an artist’s career, attracting attention from industry professionals and fans alike.
In a recent interview theReporter, Wave Rhyder said the name of his album ‘Manothi’ resembles where he comes from as he grew up listening to Famo music which is an original and traditional sound from Lesotho.
So, every time that music was played he would hear old folks saying ‘hona hee ke Lenothi’, meaning it’s a beautiful song, a song for the soul.
“The idea of making beautiful melodies using an accordion musical instrument the Famo way always excited me. That’s why when I finally got a chance, I took it and named the album ‘Manothi’ because the new offering consists of beautiful sounds, melodies and messages.
“I worked with Troy on the album. He helped me produce and arrange songs. But most importantly he helped create the sound,” he noted.
Wave Rhyder stated that he also worked with artists like Monamoli Mahlekele (Milo) and Khethang Hlalele (Morusu) who were very instrumental on this album because they both play the accordion.
“Without it there’s no sound,” he added.
Wave Rhyder also worked with Kgosi Mahumapelo who helped him in writing and co-producing some of the songs. The album consists of nine tracks and it features Morusu and Milo.
Wave Ryder further mentioned that as an artist, seeing this kind of success on Spotify really inspires him a lot and shows growth.
“Furthermore, it is indeed amazing seeing people loving all the work I put in to make the music enjoyable.”
A lot of fans from Lesotho, South Africa and Botswana are really loving the album, he prided.
Living in an era where people stream music, Wave Rhyder considers platforms such as Spotify a great and significant springboard for his music.
The album is also available on all digital platforms.
“I would really love to thank all my fans for the love and support they give me daily. I appreciate that a lot. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” he concluded.
