TOP artists' manager Themba "TeeJay M" Mthembu is stepping into the spotlight.
This after working behind the scenes, managing top musicians for years.
The 37-year-old from Inanda, north of Durban, has been an artist manager for 13 years.
He has managed many top musicians, including gospel star Thinah Zungu, Fikile Mlomo, Jabu Dlamini, Andile Mbili and Bongani Mchunu, among others.
Now, he is stepping into the limelight as a musician of note.
He has released his afro-pop and R&B debut single, titled Ngiyak'thanda Forever and is set to release his second single on his birthday in April.
ALSO READ | Hugh Masekela's daughter on losing her dadOpens in new window
TeeJay told Daily Sun although he is now a musician, he will continue managing the artists he has been working with.
"I will not turn my back on them. The knowledge I have in managing artists. I will not just abandon it because I'm now a musician.
"I will also use it to help myself, but I will continue assisting where I can with those artists I have managed with an understanding that I'm now part of them as an artist. I'm currently helping Fikile Mlomo to bounce back onto the music scene," he said.
He said being an afro-pop and R&B musician has always been his passion, but he decided to start as an artist manager first.
TeeJay said although he was managing mainly gospel musicians, his passion was to be a musician and composer of romantic songs.
"I handle every aspect of my music: composing, singing, writing and working as a sound engineer. I released my debut single on 9 March, which was also my first time recording my own song in a studio at the age of 37.
"My next single, titled Ngiyabonga Baby, will be released on my birthday, 8 April. It's the same genre, afro-pop and R&B with a Mzansi flavour.
"After that, I'll see how people react, because now I have enough songs to make an EP. I want people to understand my genre first before dropping an EP," he said.
