#MusicExchange: Music as a love language with Timothy Moloi

Image supplied: Timothy Moloi

The song carries a message of growth, hope and encouragement. Never be afraid to take chances, find your courage and reach for your dreams.

I spoke to Moloi last week…

What is your job description?

Singer, songwriter, and proud ambassador for 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day.

What does music mean to you?

Music is a calling and something I’m very privileged to call my profession.

My music is about…

Telling a story through song.

What is your motto?

“Everything will be alright in the end, so if it is not alright, it is not the end” A quote from the film The Best Marigold Hotel.

Fame is about…

Making a positive impact on your community.

Retirement will happen when…

Longevity in the entertainment industry is what we all strive for as artists. And a wonderful example of that is Tony Bennet, who has just received a Grammy Award at the age of 95.

I don't do…

Drama

I would love to co-write with…

Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds

Where do you go for inspiration to create?

The recording studio is my home away from home and it’s where I find inspiration.

What is the most enjoyable aspect of your work?

My favourite aspect of what I do is collaborating with other artists and producers. I really enjoy the process of sharing ideas, and I think I’ve created my best work this way.

The song you must do during every show?

My single Love Is Never Blind, which I co-wrote with Howie Combrink and Sevven. It’s the song I’m most proud to have worked on and recorded.

Any funny moments on stage?

Back in 2010, I was doing a live television performance to promote my debut album, Love That Music. I had my backing tracks on a CD, and I had specified the track number I was going to sing to the producer. But to my horror, as the music started, I realised that the song that was playing was different to the one I had prepared. Panic could have set in, realising that I was on live TV. But luckily I worked out which song it was, just in time, and I knew the lyrics. So I quickly recovered and went ahead with the performance. That day I truly learnt that anything can happen on live TV.

My heroes are…

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Esther Mahlangu, Sibongile Khumalo, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Trevor Noah, Barack Obama, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams and Gift of the Givers, just to name a few.

My style icon is…

Rege-Jean Page

Which living person do you admire most and why?

Oprah. A cliche, I know. A lesson in tenacity, grit and an unbreakable spirit.

What is your most treasured possession?

My voice

It's your round; what are you drinking?

Red wine

Dream gig to do?

The Oscars

What makes you stand out?

Versatility

Any nicknames?

TimTim, Timzozo

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

An airline pilot. That’s what I wanted to become when I was young. And it’s what I was going to study when I was admitted to university. But I couldn’t run away from my true calling.

Pick five words to describe yourself?

Caring, calm, thoughtful, musical, fun

What are you streaming?

Senzo: Murder of a Soccer Star, the French series, Call My Agent and The Underground Railroad.

Greatest movie ever made?

The Godfather

What book are you reading?

I taught myself French during lockdown using the app Duolingo, so I’m reading La Loi de l’Attraction which was given to me by my friend, Carolyn Steyn.

What song changed your life?

The Greatest Love Of All by Whitney Houston

Who do you love?

My partner Brian, my family and friends. And of course, my cat, Katy.

What is your favourite word?

Awesome!

Top of your bucket list?

France, India and South America.

Your greatest achievement?

Making my talent a way to earn a living.

What do you complain about most often?

People who complain.

What is your biggest fear?

Not fulfilling my full potential.

Happiness is…

Contentment with what one’s been given.

On stage, I tend to…

Tap my foot.

The best life lesson you have learned?

Be patient, go with the flow, and try not to sweat the small stuff.

What has been your favourite journey so far?

Road tripping from Charleston, South Carolina to Durham, North Carolina a few years ago, while listening to James Taylor’s Carolina On My Mind.

Do you do charity work, and if you do – what do you do?

I am an ambassador for “67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day”. A movement for change, where we knit and crochet blankets and scarves for people in need, in the name of Madiba. Founded by Carolyn Steyn, 67 Blankets has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years.

We also recently partnered with Gift Of The Givers to distribute thousands of blankets, made with love, to communities in need ahead of the bitterly cold winter months.

In 2018 I became involved with Rada through Neil Engel, who had invited me to be a part of the project. The work that Rada does assisting orphans and orphanages, helping the elderly, the homeless, individuals who are mentally and physically disabled and those struggling with addictions, is truly amazing.

Wishes and dreams?

I wish to live in a world that is fairer, more inclusive and more equal. A world where we celebrate our similarities and as well as our differences.

Social media

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube