BY SINDISO DUBE
PROFESSIONAL song writer, Fluid, born Tendai Alex Mabhodho has bemoaned not getting little credit for his works and encouraged fellow song writers to enter into water tight contracts that will protect their intellectual property.
Fluid’s pen is behind the Ammarra Brown’s hit tracks Akiliz, Svoto, Tichichema and Versace by Tehn Diamond and Jnr Brown and other songs. He has also written songs on Ammara’s unreleased album.
“I got into the business after winning a Zim Hip-hop awards rap competition in 2015 that’s where I met Tehn Diamond who was part of the judges. After winning the contest, I started working with Tehn Diamond and Jnr Brown and that’s when I met Ammara Brown and we did Akiliz. I then went to South Africa where I did Svoto and other songs including Ammara Brown and Patoranking, which is on her unreleased album,” he said.
My last writing was on Ammara’s Tichichema and I have taken time to work on my own album which is almost done. My first single will be out in June and the rest of the album will be released in July.”
Fluid encouraged artists to engage song writers just like their international counterparts.
“Local artists think they must do all the work, writing and performing. Its normal to have someone write for you, even international stars will have five or more writers on one song. Locally, artists want to be the ones behind the whole project,” he said.
Fluid urged song writers and artists in general to prepare water tight contracts that will protect their intellectual property and also credit them.
“As a song writer one needs to have solid contracts. I have written songs for people for fun without any contract and then the songs blew up and won awards and credit only goes to the artist,” he said.
“With Ammara Brown, I have no issues with her. I got paid for the songs, but the credit side is not that great. Next time I will do credit contracts. On Akilliz I wasn’t credited much, but on Svoto featuring Mr Eazi I was credited well, but I have no issues with Ammara Brown, she helped me a lot through my career. I will definitely work with her in future if an opportunity arises.”
Fluid encouraged new artists and songwriters to monetize their talents and abilities.
“New artists don’t have much education on how to monetize music, just like me when I got to know how to monetize the craft it was too late. I had written Akkiliz and had only received US$200 and the song went on to make thousands of dollars. When I was approached to write Svoto I changed terms and on Svoto I made money, made new links as I was taken to South Africa where I met Mr Eazie, Samething Soweto, and many others. Now I know the contractual terms I should enter, things like credit and music splits,” he said.