Goodwood resident Xhanti (T.J.) Mtwana (23) takes off his mask and talks about the brutality of society and growing up without a father in his new single, “Ugly”.
This upcoming star who goes by the stage name Mtwana is a pop and R&B singer and songwriter born and raised in Kuils River, Cape Town. He is passionate about all performing arts.
Mtwana had been acting since he was only six months of age where he starred in his first commercial and ever since starred in multiple commercials, such as Spar commercials when he was with the agency Topco for kids.
He had been with the agency from six months till he was 11 years old.
The singer’s passion for music and performing came about at the tender age of 11 when he was involved in the Broadway show Beauty and the Beast, which was performed at the Artscape Theatre. This was produced by the famous Pieter Toerien production company where he had the opportunity to perform alongside well-established household names such as Sibu Radebe and Jonathan Roxmouth to name a few.
He recently released a single called “Ugly” which has been received very well by the public. A lot of people feel like the song reflects their own experience through Mtwana, meaning the song was very relatable. It also reached over 1 000 plays on both Soundcloud and YouTube in its first week.
“It’s only upwards from here,” says Hlumelo Sidiya, acting manager of Mtwana.
According to Sidiya, Mtwana expresses himself vulnerably in this melodic and intimate tune. The ultimate message being to be kind and not judge others as we do not know the battles they face in their daily lives.
Mtwana also goes deeply into personal problems he has faced with an absent father, self-doubt, and everything under his mask of confidence. As he says: “I looked in the mirror, took my mask off, and I’m so ugly,” he speaks figuratively about taking off the masks of our personas.
This intimate track speaks for itself and creates a relatable experience that one can only explain after listening and proves that Mtwana is really one to look out for on the Cape Town music scene.
According Mtwana’s acting manager, he would love the public to know that Mtwana is here now, and passionate about everything he puts his mind to and it shows in his music, for one.
“Mtwana is really the future and the present. He only gets better with each release and is a force to be reckoned with. We believe his time is right now.”
This single can be found both on Soundcloud and YouTube.
