Singer tells of 'special girl' video

PORT Elizabeth's beachfront is the setting for a new music video, due to hit the small screen at the end of February.

Phaphama Kota, of Kwazakhele, who is better known as Pakes, recently completed shooting the video for his second single, Pillar yam/Akasemhle (My pillar, you are beautiful).

The video features beachfront hotels and other popular sites around the city.

"A lot of people have been dancing to my song but they don't know the person behind it," he said.

"My song is about appreciating the woman in your life. The music video shows me having dinner with that special girl then taking her for a walk at the beach."

Pakes broke onto the scene in 2007, with his song Ndizalelwe eBahyi receiving airplay on national radio.

"After Ndizalelwe eBhayi it was a bit of a hassle for me to get a recording company.

"I went back to the drawing board and started my own company, Zwide records. I started funding local artists like Mathousand and Sdudla.

"Also, to stay relevant, I decided to record another song. In 2009 I recorded a song using my cellphone and took it to Heavy K of Point.5," he said.

But the song went public prematurely. "I recorded it in my phone and it ended up circulating. I had to redo it and I am glad to say it is receiving a lot of airplay."

It had been a 5FM top choice for more than five weeks, Pakes said.

On whether he would move to Johannesburg, he said there was "no need".

He said: "Many songs performed by well-known artists are done in PE but people don't know that. Jo'burg need us more than we need them."