Self-taught music producer on empowering artists

Ongwediva-based self-taught music producer, sound engineer and recording artist Natangwe Kaholongo, known as Pro-Humble, says he will soon start a music empowerment programme to assist fellow producers and artists to take their careers to the next level.

Pro-Humble, the founder of Kayon Records at Ongwediva, says he also plans to open another studio at Opuwo to assist and uplift artists there.

The 26-year-old producer, who manages a few upcoming singers in northern Namibia, says he has four extra places for artists who want to be part of his record label and he invites interested individuals to reach out to him.

“I feel for upcoming artists who have the potential and the talent to deliver, but are not financially stable. I know how it feels to be an artist,” says Pro-Humble, who adds that he is willing to manage and sponsor a couple of artists in his studio.

Under his label, he has employed a young, talented producer known as Wonderkidbeatz.

He is currently managing young artists such as Golden V, Nicki Young, Esther Yashe, Super 6 and Khilo-k Lam’kwahepo.

“I also taught and groomed my fellow music producers at my level through physical training and online training,” he says.

It’s his mission to discover more young talents and introduce them to the game, he adds.

Pro-Humble started producing in 2018 with his laptop. He says he was inspired by DJ Wiclip, the owner of Fly Heat Records at Ongwediva, as well as top Nigerian music producers Selebobo and DJ Coublon.

Over the four years of his career, he has produced for a variety of artists in the country – veterans and upcoming artists like Young T WokOngha, ML, Zomblam, Kaboy Kamakili, M-Gee, Super 6, Ama Kings, Dave Sk and Golden V.

Artists like Ramido from Angola, Rutenga from South Africa and Chirnabeatz from South Africa also benefitted from the input.

He says he has faced challenges like a lack of quality studio equipment, drugs, alcohol and time management issues since starting out.

“I had to work so hard to save for some studio equipment, which was not easy because I was still learning how to produce good music and artists were doubting the quality of my music. So far, I have managed to purchase some quality studio equipment. I always stay in my studio, as this saves me from going out to buy drugs and alcohol, which could have hindered my progress,” says Pro-Humble.

Being a music producer isn’t easy to balance alongside family, siblings, a child and taking care of his personal life, as time is limited, he says.

He came to the limelight in 2013 with the Young Masters Kwaito singing/dance group.

“In 2014, I got signed by the Diva Dudes group, but things didn’t work out well as the group collapsed. I decided to go solo, doing my own songs. Then, I wasn’t feeling music so I quit singing, took a break for two years and decided to take a journey to learn how to produce music.

“The whole idea was not to open up a studio, but to produce my own music through YouTube I spent sleepless nights learning all music production things,” he says.

“At a time, I used to be called Jay-K and decided to rename myself Pro-Humble, which translates to ‘The Humble Producer’.