RECORDING studios located in residential suburbs have been hit hard by the severe electricity load-shedding, which have left them counting costs after losing significant recording rehearsal time.
BY ARTS REPORTER
Munyaradzi Viyali, who runs Viyali Studios, said producing an album has become time-consuming and costly, straining artistes’ pockets.
“The power outages are slowing the recording process and sometimes power goes off during recording. Most of the time we are being forced to work at night when power is available because when we do vocals we can’t use generators because they make noise,” he said.
Clive Mono Mukundu of Monolio Recording Stable said: “Power cuts are really affecting us. I have a generator and inverters to protect the equipment, but the problem is, it is expensive to buy the fuel.”
Mukundu, however, said since he can use a generator, his work schedule is not affected by the power cuts.
Another renowned producer, Macdonald “MacDee” Chidavaenzi of Eternity Studios, said although his workflow was not affected since his studio was located in the Workington industrial site, fellow producers have been hit hard.
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“We work with schedules and deadlines which at times stretch well over two months and, if missed, it messes up the flow of production as time is very limited,” Chidavaenzi said.
DJ Fantan of Chillspot Records in Mbare said they had since introduced night shifts as a result of power cuts.
“On normal days we should work from 8am to 8pm, but now as a result of these power cuts, we are working for about two hours during the day and this has slowed down production,” DJ Fantan said.
“We have, however, introduced midnight shifts, but this is only benefiting renowned artistes who can afford to travel in their personal cars at late hours.”
Cloud 9 Empire Studios boss Heavans Zidenga said they were failing to work according to schedules, while neighbours accuse them of making noise at night.
Power utility Zesa has blamed the extensive blackouts on breakdowns at Hwange Power Station and the falling water level at Kariba Dam, which has affected electricity generation.
