TRESOR: From car guard to working with AKA and Khuli Chana

Johannesburg- Singer and songwriter TRESOR is on his way to becoming one of Africa's newest music sensations.

Tresor's debut album VII, which hits the street next month, features the likes of Beatenberg, AKA, Khuli Chana, and The Soil. 

A collaboration with four of SA's biggest names is nothing short of a dream come true for TRESOR, he told The Juice. 

It was a dream come true when TRESOR came to South Africa seven years ago, when he left home in the DRC. But it certainly hasn't been a walk in the park for him. 

When TRESOR arrived in the country he worked as a car guard, security guard and a gardener to survive. But he never lost sight of his dreams. 

"When I first arrived in the country I could not even speak English. I did all sorts of jobs just to survive, which was incredibly humbling experience. The experience of being a car guard, security guard and even a gardener moulded me into who I am today," he explained. 

While trying to find his feet in a foreign land, Tresor kept knocking on doors until people listened to him.  "My prayers were finally answered in 2010 when I signed a worldwide deal with Universal Music," he tells us. 

Tresor has also spent the last few years writing songs for Zahara and touring with her. "Zahara's manager listened to one of the songs I wrote and decided to make me a part of their team," he added. 

The singer explained that working with Zahara and some of SA's biggest names has been the most amazing experience for him. "The vision I had for my album was to create something that epitomises Africa and is classic and I think working with AKA, Khuli, The Soil and Beatenberg, we have managed to do that," he said. 

TRESOR hopes that people who listen to his music will be inspired to never lose sight of their own dreams. "I poured my heart, soul, blood and sweat into this album- I call it my gold. I hope that fans will get their piece of 'gold' through my music and journey," he said. 

"If you have a dream, go out there and get it. Through hard work and determination you can achieve anything," he went onto add.