‘I’m Capable of Producing My Own Music’ – Kamtonyo

Dynamic kwaito trio PDK founding member ‘Kamtonyo’ is making the best of the collective decision taken by the group to pursue solo projects.

Being one of three PDK members, with the name derived from the first letter of their names (Patrick, Dion and Kamtonyo), Andreas Shitala is seen as the more outrageous member of the group – but is he?

A former kwaito and pantsula dancer-turned-musician, Kamtonyo says: “I’m one of the fortunate musicians who knows something about sound engineering, and I’m capable of producing my own music. I’m also recording the work of other musicians, especially upcoming artists struggling for studio time.

“I’m currently promoting and marketing my second album, ‘Ngawo Ngawo’, which I dropped last month. In the meantime, I’m also pushing my single titled ‘Your Body’, which I dropped in December, featuring Kachazi and which was produced by Maritoko of Baby Records.”

Kamtonyo, a two-time Namibian Annual Music Awards winner with PDK, released his debut album, ‘Etako’, in 2023.

The Oshakati-born star says the whole idea is to have the album available on online platforms, and a hard copy of the record will be on sale for N$200.

Kamtonyo says he was inspired musically by his late uncle Peter Gabriel, himself a former musician and producer for Omalaeti Music Production, who taught him something about sound engineering before he carved a career as a musician for himself.

The kwaito star has other side hustles too.

“Apart from my music, I’m also into logistics and I’m into the buy-and-sell business most young people have also embarked on. I act as a middleman if you want to sell your car, or I can buy it from you and resell it for a little profit,” Kamtonyo explains.

“My business is not only restricted to cars – even the selling of electronic equipment or a portable electronic device like a cellphone is within my line of business. If you want to sell your cellphone, I’m the go-to person if you want to get a fair deal,” he says.

Kamtonyo, who started his music career in 2003, says he likes to chill either at home or at the Baby Boy Records studio.

He says he would have been a footballer now if it were not for music, and he still enjoys playing the game socially.

His sights are not only set on making music – he says he also wants to make comedy movies and open a restaurant.

“I also have my own record label, known as Totos Records, which specifically aims to attract young artists with potential who want to make it in the music industry.

“We all know how tough it is for youngsters to get into the industry,” he says.

“The best thing I did for my music career was to produce myself under the name ‘KK21 On the Beat’. It helps a lot and is very cost effective, because it enables me to just walk into the studio, produce a beat and just apply words to it.”