Senior Oat opens up about financial struggles - ‘I just want bookings'
His 2022 anthem 'All in You' became a beacon of hope for many.
So, where has the talented artist been? After a long period of being quiet, Senior Oat recently broke his silence, bravely sharing a candid post on his Facebook page about his financial struggles and how difficult it has been for him to score gigs or bookings, sparking widespread concern.
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Mafadi 'Albert' Mogale, popularly known as Senior Oat, is a South African deep and soulful house music producer and DJ from Limpopo.
He rose to fame in 2022 with his hit single 'All in You' featuring Kemy Chienda, a song that took the nation by storm.
Speaking with Drum, he opened up about the harsh realities of the industry, his journey, the emotional toll of his struggles, including the lessons he learned along the way, and what's next for his career.
How are you feeling given your circumstances and challenges?
I'm okay, and I'm hopeful that everything will work out, so I can safely say I'm fine. This has been ongoing for quite some time, but I just didn't expect it to escalate this quickly. I thought I had it under control.
2022 was my biggest year with the 'All in You' single, and I thought that was my breakthrough, but after that, things started going south for me. I haven't been getting gigs or bookings. We were and still are begging for bookings.
What made you take the hard decision of posting about your financial struggles?
I was just hit by the reality of how things have turned and decided to pour my heart out. I didn't even tell my manager that I was going to post that, but it was just my emotions. I woke up one morning, I think it was around 3 or 4 AM, and I posted that as I asked myself if I bottle this, how long will I be able to do that? Rather, I ask for help because people won't know if I keep quiet. I poured my heart out on that post, then I went to sleep. When I woke up, it had garnered a lot of reactions from people than I had imagined, and many were sharing it.
I'm not looking for donations or financial handouts. And this is not because of pride or anything, but just my work ethic. I want to work for my comeback doing what I love, and I have no problem with people getting donations, but I would prefer putting in the work, and that would be achieved by getting gigs.
As a deep or soulful house DJ, do you feel like the industry has shifted in a way that's making it harder for artists in your genre to get bookings?
In my opinion, the deep house community almost feels like a 'cult', I'm saying this in the sense it's not too saturated but here people know people, they know each other and when there's gigs, they book each other based on their relationships, and if you don't have any connections, you will not get bookings.
Additionally, most deep house DJs don't view my music as deep house, and I think that's where the problem is. They don't think I make music worthy of being labelled as 'deep house,' according to them. There was even a debate on my music, as they say or call my music 'deep house lite,' and maybe in their eyes, I'm diluting what they've been working hard to achieve for this genre.
What do you think artists need to do to stay relevant in today's music industry, especially when it comes to bookings?
After the 'All in You' era, I haven't released that much music, and I also think that was due to the pressure I was getting back then, it was too much as people expected my next album or single to do similar or even better in numbers than 'All in You,' and I think I let fear and the pressure consume me back then, yes I still released music, but not better than 'All in You'.
I think for anyone to get bookings or consider getting booked, you need to have more music out there.
But for you to stay relevant, you must not be scared to be different and be who you are. Don't get pressured by the rising numbers of artists, but instead make sure you find your niche and master it.
And not everyone's going to be a fan of your music, but make sure to take care of your supporters by giving them music that will feed their soul, and that's how you will stay relevant.
What are some of the lessons you've learnt in the industry?
One of the many lessons I've learned is not to be too trusting in this industry. You can work with someone for 4 - 5 months, and they'll betray you in the 6th month.
Also, it hit me amidst all this that I haven't been taking my career as a 'career.' I just took it as a hobby and that's what got me here now.
I'd give out favours because I trusted and knew people, they would just come to me when they were hosting shows to ask me to perform at their events and promise to pay me, and I'd take their word because I know them, but when it's time to pay, they'd not deliver on their end of the bargain. Now, I've decided to take my career as seriously as it is and have limitations to the favours I give out, because when you're going through the darkest of days, you're alone.
Do you have any new music or collaborations on the works currently?
Yes, I have a new EP single coming out this Friday called 'The purge,' and then an album slated for late September.
During the creative process of my EP and the album altogether, the overarching theme of forgiveness has been a guiding force in this process and work.
I have learned to forgive, heal, and move on, and I have poured all my heart and soul into my upcoming projects.
Do you have any message of hope to anyone going through a hard time?
In my 2022 single 'All in You,' I say, 'When I look into the mirror, it's Your grace I see, it's Your mercy I see, it's Your love I feel.
To anyone going through something, do not give up. Faith is very important. Always keep your eyes fixed on God.
Continue doing what you love but keep God in mind. And if you have a dream, chase it, for as long as you've dreamed about it, you can achieve it with hard work and God by your side.
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