RISING pop diva Netsayi Chigwendere will collaborate with one of Zimbabwe’s celebrated producers and instrumentalists Keith Farquharson on her new album Mineral X.
Entertainment Reporter
Farquharson is now based in South Africa where he works with popular Afro-jazz outfit Freshly Ground. The instrumentalist is well known for his part in the popular yesteryear group Illanga.
He has also worked with Oliver Mtukudzi and Chiwoniso Maraire, among many other Zimbabwean musicians. Chigwendere, who returned home in 2011 after a decade in the United Kingdom, is working with established musicians to build her career.
“Keith and I have talked about working together for a long time,” said Chigwendere.
“Somehow it never quite worked out. But when it came to laying down the first tracks for the new record, I knew I needed someone who understood Zimbabwean pop. When I found out Keith was available, he went straight to the top of my list.”
Farquharson said he was happy to work with Chigwendere.
“Netsayi and I met socially in Zimbabwe, but my first experience of her music was in London when I went to one of her shows,” he explained.
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“She sang on the Migrant Souls album which I recorded and produced in Germany around 2005.
“She has a tremendously rich voice, really catchy vocal melodies and interesting lyrics. But I am most excited by the route she’s chosen — using marimba for the bass lines. It’s not just innovative, but pretty bold and I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of recording it.”
For this album, she has put together Black Pressure, a band of young, exceptionally talented instrumentalists.
Farquharson sees Netsayi’s music as indicative of a new movement in Zimbabwean music.
“Of course, there’s heaps of talent on both sides of the Limpopo, but I feel Zimbabwean musicians are better at incorporating traditional elements and rhythms into their songs, while South Africa is still pretty big on the Afro-jazz thing.
“There are some really great young Zimbabwean players out there and the music is becoming more inventive. Netsayi’s approach — a departure from the conventional drums/bass/guitar/keyboards set-up — is right at the forefront of that movement,” he said.
