YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR NEXT
Nicole Martinez was born on 28 October and raised in the streets of Bontleng, a popular township in Gaborone. She then moved to Mmopane Block 1, at the age of 10. Describing her upbringing further, Martinez’s favourite childhood memory was when she used to dance for people; they would cheer and give her money. It was such a great experience for her.
According to the talented artist, she is a blessing in everyone’s life, especially those around her. She cares more about their health and well-being, which is why she is a dancer, fitness trainer and a musician. Nicole said that her music speaks to almost every age group, as her aim is to touch every soul on this earth, as well as to heal them from whatever challenge or battle they are going through. Nicole believes that everything she does is inspired by where she comes from, as her mother told her how she would sing a lot from an early age (4 or 5 years old), especially traditional music. “I believe that is why I am currently releasing music that has a lot of traditional (Setswana) elements. I began all the dancing and singing ever since I was a young girl. Professionally, however, I started everything in 2014,” she explained.
Nicole Martinez is currently under a label called Bang! Gae Studios. She described how Bang! Gae Studio understands her path, because they are encouraging and supportive towards everything she does. All her music is engineered by Tshepo “Nephew” Moanakwena. Discussing the local music industry, Martinez finds it to be very challenging and stressful, almost every single day.
Nonetheless, she loves how the music industry game is all about taking baby steps. Furthermore, the Motswana artist mentioned that she has received many great responses and words of encouragement, so as to keep on pushing her work. She is currently focused on doing just that; pushing boundaries. In her own words, “You are only as good as your next. This means that you are only better than the next thing you create, so you only get better if you just keep on going. I am learning every day.” Getting up-close, Nicole Martinez informed us that three interesting facts about her would be:
1. She is fun to be around.
2. She is a bubble of happiness.
3. She is a blessing.
Nicole also mentioned that she does not understand why people are obsessed with feeling “hyped up”. In her perspective, people cannot follow their own intuition or judge well for themselves when they are feeling hyped up, which makes them to be gullible. Back to her music, Martinez has released the following singles so far:
Break Your Heart – it is a song about breaking up with your lover, being left confused and sad.
High With Me – it is a sensual and romantic song, which she dedicates to everyone in a happy relationship.
Bodimo – this one is all about the games which she played as a child, and she believes that everyone born before her, as well as in the late 90s, would relate to it.
O Ile – it is all about losing someone you love and care about through death.
Re Ja Lenyalo – it is a wedding celebration song.
Toza Toza – this is a nostalgic song about her childhood.
Re Baga Mang – it is a song about the Covid-19 era and how it has affected us as Batswana. In closing, Nicole Martinez expressed herself as a very versatile artist. “All I can say is that people should always be ready for everything I drop, because it is never the same,” she said affirmed.
Caron M. Moloi, is the Editor-in-Chief of Africa’s Very Own Magazine. Caron is a young editor born and raised in Francistown. She is currently a student at the University of Botswana.
The Editor describes herself as a self-motivated person, because she believes that everything we do begins in our minds. According to her, a positive mindset yields positive results. One of her favourites quotes is by Dr Wayne W. Dyer: "My goal is not to be better than anyone else, but to be better than I used to be."
Maverick Kabelo is the founder and editorial director of Africa’s Very Own Magazine. Kabelo is a business student, digital media enthusiast/entrepreneur, creative, writer and content creator. He started writing when he was just 16 after founding the magazine on Facebook.
