By Kennedy Nyavaya
Musician Qounfuzed, real name McDonald Sheldon (pictured below), says a lot of research, good sources of inspiration and soul-searching has resulted in him carving a unique niche in the music industry close to a decade after announcing his presence on the scene.
The Wakanaka Nhai ka Oldie singer took the charts by storm towards the end of last year with smash hits like 9ine, Ndakachena as well as Georgina, featuring Holy Ten among others and he has vowed not to stop.
In an interview with Standard Style from his Cape Town base recently, the songster, who could not be drawn to explain intricate details about the strategies that made his great return possible, said he has been taking time to learn how the music business works and keeping up with modern rhythms.
“All I can say is that doing a lot of research and getting good sources of inspiration is key if you want to make it in the modern music industry. Also associating , socialising and conversing with your people is another important thing,” said.
The 27-year-old insists on carrying the Zimdancehall tag to date, but there has been a noticeable change in his sound and subsequent upgrade in the quality of visuals on his catalogue.
“It’s been more than a decade now considering I had my breakthrough in 2011. As far as maintaining that, I think it’s all about keeping up with the trends, every year you should be sounding like the new and fresh artistes,” he said.
Qounfuzed underscores that age and maturity have played an integral role in charting a new path in a career that has its foundation in the perceived confusions of teenhood.
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“People are starting to appreciate me more and listening to my music since I released 9ine, age and maturity have played a big role so we can just call it experience in addition to learning how to work with different people,” he said.
But, it has not been all bliss for the lyrical genius who has had to live with consequences of his past musical transgressions.
Some back and forth diss tracks, with chanter Seh Calaz in particular and controversy still haunts him to date.
“This has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages obviously was the news that came with it which made relevant at the time, but the disadvantage is that to this day I have people that do not support or like me and my music because of that,” he said.
Nonetheless, the ambitious musician, who has marked collaborating with either Kanye West or Drake as wishes topping his bucket list, has vowed to continue serving more of the good stuff to music fans.
“I have Cindy and Roki collabos coming up. I also have Mudhudhudhu, a big video, coming up and possibly some Freeman and Buffalo Souljah on the 9ine remix, I have a lot of good music coming up to be honest,” he assured.
