Getting down with the Paper Chaser: C-Ga

Mika Stefano: Who is C - Ga?

C-Ga: C-Ga is a simple boy from Alexandra with dreams of making it big in the showbiz, entertain the masses and inspire the young people from his ghetto. C-Ga is all about the great things in life. C-Ga is love and music.

Mika Stefano: Where did the name C-Ga come from?

C-Ga: I’ve been called C-Ga in my township since I was a little boy. Its township slang for my real name. For example if your real name is Mika, you would call u Mikza or Mikzozo.

Mika Stefano: Mikza, I like that! So what is your real name?
C-Ga: Sipho Masebe

Mika Stefano: Where are you from?
C-Ga: Alexandra Township

Mika Stefano: How old are you?
C-Ga: 27

Mika Stefano: When did you start performing?
C-Ga: The arts have always been a part of me: music, dance, acting etc from the age of 15. Those were some of the things that kept me off the streets, and the crime I was exposed to in the townships

Mika Stefano: How did you get behind the mic?
C-Ga: Music has always been around me since childhood, I grew up in a musical home, my mother being part of the famous girl group Mahottela Queens and Mthunzini Girls and my uncle Bhanza was with Alexandra brass band. So it was the most natural thing for me.

Mika Stefano: What's the worst thing that's happened to you on stage?
C-Ga: Lol I was perfuming for a huge crowd at the Soweto festival, I was just so excited by the crowd then suddenly forgot the lyrics. Fortunately, I always have hype guys so they filled in for me, I'm grateful that people did not pick it up. But it was quite embarrassing to be up there, all confident then boom!

Mika Stefano: What other jobs have you done?
C-Ga: I did a couple of TV shows like, Rhythm city, Tshisa, A place called home, Beautiful contradictions(short gay film which will be flighted this year at the gay film festival) I have been very blessed in getting the best jobs, I believe in hard work. I’ve also worked in the retail industry.

Mika Stefano: Share one funny story with us about a previous job?
C-Ga: I was on a production for a popular TV drama. One day as I was dressing up this famous actress whose name I won’t mention, she suddenly asked me to tie her shoe laces, insisting. She was so rude and demanded that I do it, which I wouldn’t have minded. It got so bad to the point that I called it quits on that day, because my thinking was my name will be written on lights, and I’m the one that should get their shoe laces done for! Not the other way round.

Mika Stefano: What was it like working on Backstage?
C-Ga: It was cool. I didn’t really do much there because I was a featured extra. I was actually dressing a number of actors (stylist) when the late casting director Trudie Taljaard thought I’d be perfect on TV. So she tried me out on TV. Other acting gigs came later; like Tshisa and Rhythm City.

Mika Stefano: What TV programme are you working on now?
C-Ga: Currently we just finished shooting a pilot for my reality TV show Real Tym with C-ga a music driven show about the ins and outs of the entertainment industry

Mika Stefano: You acted in MR Bones, What part did you play?
C-Ga: Kwame, I was on the scene at the Golf Course

Mika Stefano: You also studied at Moving Into Dance, do you still dance?
C-Ga: I had an opportunity to work with the great dance teacher Victor Mohapi where I specialised in African modern dance which was a great opportunity for me. I got to learn more about different genres in dance but I stopped a long time ago, just grew out of it

Mika Stefano: Can we expect a crazy dance routine to accompany any of your up and coming songs?
C-Ga: I’m working on that. I’ll make sure that you’re the first to know!

Mika Stefano: When growing up, what career did you want to pursue?
C-Ga: I have always wanted to be a Marine Biologist, because I love the sea and animals, being raised by a single parent that was not possible because it’s really an expensive course, so I opted for integrated marketing communication.

Mika Stefano: Have you ever had a 9-5 day job?
C-Ga: I started in retail as a sales rep, Levis for 3yrs and Guess SA where I was the Visual coordinator.
Mika Stefano: What is your favourite type of music?
C-Ga: I honestly like all genres of music from your Anita Baker, Oleta Adams, Sibongile Khumalo, Al Green, I love Good music.

Mika Stefano: What are your top 3 songs currently?
C-Ga: No way to love me by Oleta Adams, Queen Lattifah - Gone Away and uhmmm.... let me think: Jadakiss featuring Jasmine Sullivan – Smoking Gun

Mika Stefano: What CD is in your CD Shuttle right now?
C-Ga: Da Les, Dj Twitty, Akon, Howza

Mika Stefano: What can we expect from C-Ga in the next 5 years?
C-Ga: Well if things go my way, you can expect loads and loads of refreshing entertainment, great songs and all of the above.

Mika Stefano: Are you involved?
C-Ga: I am indeed.

Mika Stefano: You have many gay friends, are you gay?
C-Ga: I’m not gay. I have friends from all walks of life and they are all special to me. If they have my best interests at heart, I’ll have their best interests as well.

Mika Stefano: You have just released your first CD, Paper Chaser. Tell me about it?
C-Ga: A Paper Chaser is a hard worker, a go getter, someone who isn’t afraid of chasing their dream
It took 2years to finish the album because I had to write about situations that I could relate to. My music is Kwaito with an element of Pop, soul, Jazz. It was important for me to fuse all my favourite sounds in one album and write about my people in the townships and their everyday struggles, and to inspire them not to give up and be the best they could be, hence the title Paper Chaser. I have worked with some of the best in the industry on this album like Dj Dino Bravo, Urban Reign etc. I also wrote a Tribute song Emnqamlezweni to all the legends that passed on like Lebo Mathosa, Lucky Dube, Brenda Fassie. The song features the St Francis Orchestra.

Mika Stefano: If you could have done a duet or featured any local artist, who would you have liked to team up with?
C-Ga: Phuzekhemisi and Busi Mhlongo

Mika Stefano: Who would you like to work with on your next album?
C-Ga: Thembi seete, Simphiwe Dana and Mandoza, Lizha James

Mika Stefano: What genre is your music?
C-Ga: Kwaito

Mika Stefano: When are you shooting the music video?

C-Ga: In September, just waiting for the single to hype up on radio, for people to be familiar with the song

Mika Stefano: When can we expect your CD in stores?
C-Ga: People can get the album in stores in a couple of weeks or go to MTN Exploded/C-ga it’s really a collector’s item, a definite must have