THE much hyped PJ Records studios seem to have suffered a stillbirth amid allegations that the stable’s financier and founder Prophet Passion Java has relocated to the United States.
by NIGEL PFUNDE
The Borrowdale-based studio was launched recently at a glamorous event funded by Passion and it is understood that the chief producer, Tatenda ‘Take 5’ Jenami, was given an undisclosed hefty signing-on fee with promises of more funds which never materialised.
Passion’s spokesperson, Pastor Charles Mungoshi Jnr, however dismissed speculation that the clergyman had left the country amid reports of mounting debts and attachment of property.
“It’s not true that Prophet Passion has left the country. He is around. He has been in the country for the last month, during which this project was launched,” he said.
This, however, is contrary to what some of the gospel musicians who recorded their music at the studio said as they felt the resuscitation of the studio was in doubt.
“We were made to believe that we would record for free and they would help us land deals with big studios in the US, but that was all cheap talk,” said one of the disgruntled artistes.
The concept behind the studio was to record gospel musicians for free and upgrade them.
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“There is a lot of talent in the country that needs to be tapped and they (artistes) need to realise their dreams.
“They have powerful voices, but they are not being heard because of financial constraints, that is the reason why I opened a studio where they can record free of charge,” Passion said in a statement then.
According to Passion’s description on the launch of the studio, it is soundproof and comes equipped with Apple Logic recording software and houses a central lounge area with a tech panel, main recording room with Steinway piano and vocal room.
PJ Records is not the first studio to collapse due to financial constraints. Last Power Media, owned by Laston “GP” Mureriwa and Alick Macheso, also suffered the same fate.
