The four-string instrument is not easy to play and not one that’s popular as it requires patience and willingness to learn.
But he has taken his time to learn the bowed stringed musical instrument and brought the “cool” to classical music.
He became popular on social media when he did a rendition of Tyler ICU's song, Bella Ciao during which the series Money Heist premiered on Netflix.
Limpopo violinist Maremo Seabela (21) is a maestro in the making. He was recently booked to play at the Afrotainment Fact Durban Rocks Durban July Marquee hosted by DJ Tira and Gugu Khathi.
He features in two songs – Zimbali, featuring Ami Faku, and Milani on Prince Kaybee’s latest album, Gemini, as a session artist after he found him on social media.
“I do cover songs and post them up on social media. I did three Prince Kaybee covers before he took notice of me and reached out and asked that when I am in Joburg I contact him. I contacted him last year and we went into the studio one evening,” Maremo says.
After working on Prince Kaybee’s album, Maremo will be doing some work with DaCapo.
“I am waiting for him to return from travelling. I have also been playing at private bookings; weddings, birthdays, and corporate gigs. But I’m having fun and I will see where it takes me,” he says.
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Born in Polokwane, Limpopo, Moremo is currently studying his third year in Bachelor of Science, majoring in Physiology and Biochemistry at the University of Limpopo, Maremo does music as a passion.
He learned to play the violin in 2010 after his aunt Motsane Seabela, an opera singer suggested he join the Limpopo Youth Orchestra.
“I used to attend auditions and go to town with my aunt. She found the Limpopo youth orchestra. She heard they teach children to play and read musical instruments. I initially wanted to play the piano but they did not offer and so I went for the violin which I ended up loving,” he says.
Maremo comes from a musical home, but he is the first to do it professionally.
“Most of the people in my family members are singers, but not professional.
He studied and played with the Limpopo Youth Orchestra for seven years before they closed down due to a lack of funding in 2017.
Through the orchestra, he travelled abroad to Senegal, Ireland, and Germany. In 2015, he was invited by ABRSM to play a piece at the ABRSM high scores concert at the World of Yamaha Theatre in Sandton after scoring the highest in Limpopo in his national exam.
“I played with the orchestra for seven years. I had to cut the music course in Grade five, before going to Grade six and the final year is Grade eight when the orchestra closed down. I had to go solo and started taking corporate bookings and bookings at private functions until I came up with the idea of doing cover songs on social media.”
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The violin is no child’s play and requires patience and discipline.
“It takes time to learn the violin. You need to be really dedicated and practise daily. If you neglect it, it will show. I practise for five to six hours a day.”
Maremo says it also does not come cheap.
“It is also a costly instrument. One needs to pay for a tutor. Violin strings cost from R800 to about R4500. You need to maintain and keep good quality sound, every four to five months. But it is all worth it in the end.”
Maremo is passionate about both science and music and doesn’t see himself choosing one over the other.
I love both. I hope to one day continue with my music studies on the side. With the violin, you need to have specific qualifications to be able to play professionally and for an orchestra. But I will continue with my science studies, as I am passionate about both,” he says.
“I love both. But the pandemic has also encouraged me to continue with my studies in science. I saw how artists suffered. The music industry is not stable enough. If I am to study music and if something similar happens, I don’t want to be without a job.”
In the future, Moremo would like to complete his music studies and do more collaborations with artists.
“But for now, I am just having fun and seeing where it takes me. I don’t want to plan too much.”
