IT seems multi-award winning artist — Jah Prayzah — suffers from an identity crisis.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO
With more than four years in the music industry, he is yet to identify his genre.
The Uzumba-bred crooner even admitted that his forthcoming 10-track album titled Mdhara Vachauya, cannot fit in one particular genre as it is a fusion of different types of beats, adding that he was leaving his traditional style. “With each passing year, I have strived to do things differently,” Jah Prayzah said.
“Mdhara Vachauya is in a league of its own that we are not even sure of what to call it as it is a fusion of different genres.”
The crooner said he was now focusing on breaking into the global stage after he collaborated with Tanzanian, Diamond Platinum on the song titled Watora Mari.
“I have not left my music, but I only added a few tracks to suit an international audience. There are a few songs on the album where people will question if it was really me, just like I did on Hello,” he said.
“It is good to collaborate with such famous individuals on the continent because more people will know you. It is also an issue of helping each other to go grow in this industry.”
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Music promoter and Jive Zimbabwe director Benjamin Nyandoro said it was not mandatory for a musician to specialise in a certain genre.
“Music is art and in the case of Jah Prayzah, his strength is on the depth of his lyrical content and his powerful voice that makes one feel his message across any genre as it relates to everyday livelihood, even in his collaborations,” Nyandoro said.
“Jah Prayzah plays mbira — a celebrated Zimbabwean instrument — which grounds his music in our tradition and identity as a Zimbabwean. His music preserves our culture and our pride.”
Meanwhile, Jah Prayzah said preparations for his seventh album launch, that will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre on August 12 before taking it to Bulawayo the following day for another launch at the Large City Hall, are at an advanced stage.
In the capital, the Tsviriyo-hitmaker will share the stage with Oliver Mtukudzi, Willom Tight and Sam Dondo, while Winky D alongside Jays Marabini and Cal_Vin will be the supporting acts in Bulawayo.
Fans from Harare will join the crooner and his Third Generation outfit on a road trip to Bulawayo, with stop-overs in Chegutu, Kadoma, Kwekwe and Gweru.
The musician’s manager Keen Mushapaidze said they had organised a road trip, which is expected to attract the musician’s fans from across the country.
“We have partnered with the Rainbow Tourism Group to ensure that all visiting fans are well-catered for with accommodation going for $45 on the launch night at Bulawayo Rainbow Hotel,” Mushapaidze said.
“While in Bulawayo, we will join fans and visit City Hall, Bulawayo Centre, Egodini, Centenary Park, Haddon and Sly as well as shopping malls in the low and high-density suburbs.”
Nyandoro said five buses of the targeted 10 for the Bulawayo raod trip have already been filled, adding that they were anticipating about 200 cars to join the entourage.
“This is an event for individuals ready to spare the whole weekend as we will be having stop-overs in all major towns until we reach Bulawayo,” Nyandoro said.
“Music is a business, like any other trade and there is need for a launch, and activation of a product like an album, so I am impressed that other stables are embracing the idea. It shows they noticed the benefits.”
Some of the songs to be featured on the album include Mudhara Vachauya, Hossana, Watora Mari, Tsotsi, Jenny, Goto, Kurumidza, Seke, Ndide Ndikude, Mbembe and In The Ghetto.
The well-travelled musician was in Monaco before going to France to shoot the video for one of his tracks on the upcoming album.
The video for Watora Mari will be shot today in South Africa. It will be produced by Godfather, a renowned production house in South Africa.
