By Style Reporter
Local musician Feli Nandi says she has what it takes to make a name in the male-dominated music industry following her unceremonial departure from Mhodzi Tribe.
Nandi, who had been a backing vocalist at Mhodzi Tribe, stepped away from the Afro-fusion outfit fronted by Mbeu, born Ashton Nyahora, citing “irreconcilable differences” with the management.
However, the music diva told Standard Style recently that she was ready to roll on her own.
“l am ready to take off as a solo artiste, it won’t be an easy journey, but l am up fo the challenge,” Nandi said.
She felt hard done by the management at Mhodzi Tribe, but she sees it as an opportunity to carve a niche for herself in the dog-eat-dog music industry.
“Mbeu’s management dismissed me. l did not choose to leave, but l was let go. A lot of reasons were raised and some of them were the collaborations l was doing outside Mhodzi Tribe,” she said.
“However, l feel it’s an opportunity for me to launch my solo career.”
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Nandi has had three solo projects despite being a member of Mhodzi Tribe where she was confined to backing vocals.
She has dropped singles Women, Ndega Ndada and Ndibateiwo, including a cover video of Steve Makoni’s hit song Zvachonyana. All her projects are trending on online platforms.
The elegant singer, who is also a fashion designer, said she is in the studio working on yet another project.
“l have a song coming in three weeks titled Mangoromera, which is themed on gender-based violence,” she said.
“l am setting up a six-member band and l am very happy that l have a lot of support coming from fans.
“On the designing side, l am working hard producing more designs that suit summer.”
The song Mangoromera was produced by Alicious, while the video was shot by Studio Art Pictures (SAP) and sponsored by The Comic Pastor and Associates.
It has not been that rosy for Zimbabwean female artistes who walk away from their brands and these include Gonyeti who left Jah Prayzah’s Third Generation outfit to pursue a solo career.
However, she failed to rise to the billing.
Nandi said it was not easy, particularly for women to make it in music because of society’s often negative perceptions.
“We have very powerful women in Zimbabwe that have made it, but the music industry looks like it can be very difficult for a woman to really hit it up there,” she said.
