Sisekelo Shawn

Sisekelo Shawn Sibandze born August 1st, 2001 is a Swati rapper, producer, and songwriter born and raised in the Kingdom of Eswatini. In 2024, Shawn began touring different venues around Eswatini with his band, The Mateo Band and released his Single gravity, with a live performance video featuring various local & international instrumentalists. That earned him a spot in The EU Bushfire Schools Festival having him perform at the MTN Bushfire 2024 Main Stage, In 2021 Shawn founded his own company, named Mateo.

Background

At the tender age of ten, Shawn’s music journey began. In fourth grade, Shawn first learned how to express himself through lyric writing, fast-forward 5 years later he released his very first single, performed that single at a school competition, and earned himself a bronze medal. Slowly but surely, Shawn was beginning to make a name for himself. During his high-school years, not only was he working towards being a rapper and songwriter, but he also then ventured into song production. Besides his love for music, Shawn got into music production with the intention to create the sound he had been looking for, a sound that would match his style of music, a sound that allows one to not only feel the music but also live in it for that moment. In 2021 Shawn began his singing journey after experiencing heartbreak.

Music

Growing up, Shawn was exposed to diverse types of music, made by present-day music legends namely Celine Dion, Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar, boy band Westlife, and Tyrese. Young Shawn had a taste for Soul, RnB, rap, hip-hop, and pop, and that taste continues to live on in his own music. The entirety of Shawn’s music cannot be described in a few words simply because he has a colorful discography. He is no stranger to experimenting with new sounds, sampling, voice play, and stepping out into his comfort zone regarding his lyricism. His music often jumps between being moody and heartfelt to being playful, interactive, and groovy.