Pablo%8 was unearthed through DSTV’s Bots Top 5 music show after his song ‘Simping rated 4th.
The 23-year-old is a multi-genre artist from Mabalane with a dream to be one of the biggest music stars to come out of Botswana.
Let’s start with the obvious question: why the name Pablo%8 and how is it pronounced?
My birth name is Paballo, and from that, my friends coined the name Pablo in High School.
When I started recording music, I realised there were so many people using the name Pablo on streaming platforms so I came up with Pablo%8 to stand out.
It’s pronounced Pablo eight percent.
What genre is your music?
I do a mixture of R&B, Hip Hop, House, Afro Beat and Amapiano.
I am like the modern day Bee Gees, which means that as music changes, so will my genre.
Your video recently showed on Bots Top 5 – it must have been an exciting moment for you to see your face on Channel O?
Well, I actually don’t have DSTV so I didn’t get to watch the show!
I heard from my friends that my video was on Channel O, and I also saw clips on people’s stories.
The ‘wow moment’ was when Mdu tha Party posted it on his stories.
I was obviously excited, I didn’t have a budget for that video, just a few supportive friends who came on board and turned it into a reality.
Nikky Diamonds paid for the video, Sebaga secured a good location for the shoot and was the muse, Travis and Letlotlo were the stylists, Lucas Chubs and Spurs were actors, Mark and Fikile were production assistants, and Lamont was the director, videographer and editor.
Take us through your video submission process.
It was a very simple process.
All you had to do was submit a link of your video through email.
I think the nerve racking part for every artist is where they check the quality of the video because that alone can disqualify you, regardless of how good the song is.
Your music has a distinctively exotic sound, who inspires you?
I am inspired by many international artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Lecrae, AKA as well as local acts such as ATI.
I also used to listen to a lot of Dintleonthetrack, Jack Monster and Current from 2017 to 2019.
How have Batswana responded to your stuff?
The youth love my music, especially the ones in the towns and cities.
The older folks, however, can’t relate to my music.
Which is fine, you can’t really appeal to everyone.
Are you studying anything music related?
Unfortunately no, the course I am interested in isn’t available here in Botswana.
I want to learn how to mix and master songs.
The other factor is that our local entertainment industry is small as compared to other countries so I don’t want to keep all my eggs in one basket.
Two local musicians you’d like to collaborate with?
I would love to work with Han C and Maxy Khoisan.
Mention two of your favourite phrases.
‘Ke nyaka 100 million’ and ‘Yah neh’.
If you were stuck on a deserted island with one person, who would you prefer that person be?
I would want to be with Kanye West in order to learn from him because he has done amazing things with his career in different disciplines of art.
What would the title of your memoir be?
The title of my memoir would be ‘Don’t Give Up’, because I tend to have serious doubts in my abilities as an artist.
Five things people don’t know about you?
1. I love watching anime
2. I am a self taught guitar, keyboard and marimba player
3. I am part of a collective called IZM with artists such as Sebaga, Kayso the enigma, Brian Bc, Nikky Diamonds and Fancy
4. I am a student at the University of Botswana
5. I am a first born child with four siblings
