What you know What you know about Tinashe?*

Tinashe is a Zimbabwean born artist, who moved to England at a young age, and now hails from Hackney. He has appeared on Uncle Melvin Odoom's Intros show on Channel 4 (yes "...delicious like a pot of jollof rice...") and was one of the artists featured at HMV's Next Big Thing concert. 

His music has been compared to that of British pop star, Frank Musik, but in my own words, I think it's more like a jam session between Daft Punk, James Morrison and Oliver Mtukudzi; explosive, intricate and with all the makings of becoming legendary… And also the new soundtrack to my life! I caught up with the T man and we talked about music, his trip to South Africa and Transport for London!

It was dejavu all over again as this was yet another phoner, like with JJC. I could let this one go, seeing as he was getting ready to go on tour with the Noisettes:

C: So how does it feel to be going on tour with the Noisettes?

T: It's really exciting! It one of the few good things that have happened in a while and I'm really happy to be doing it.

C: How old were you when you moved to England?

T: Twelve. It's great though to have experienced living in both countries. I can still speak Shona, but with a slight English accent now!

C: Was it a big change for you?

T: No, not really. My mom had been living here for about four or five years before I came so she was settled, she was working three jobs, and as you know, here you've got to really work hard to get where you want to get.

C: Your Myspace page says you were meant to become a doctor and "wire money back home" but you got sidetracked by Michael Jackson! What made you want to pursue music?

T: Well, music was a lot more accessible as a career this side and at school I had a really good music teacher, so that got me really passionate about it. Once I started playing the guitar, I was hooked!

C: How did your parents take it?

T: (laughs) Well as you know, they expected me to become something 'respectable'  like a doctor or a lawyer, so you can imagine how that turned out. My mother wasn't too happy about it to begin with because I was supposed to be sending money back home and she didn't think I would be able to do that if I pursued music. She is really proud of me now though.

C: Your sound has been compared to Frank Musik, but I think you sound more like a mix of Daft Punk and Oliver Mtukudzi. What do you think?

T: (laughs…a lot) Well Oliver is a real legend, and I get that comparison because we both play guitar, and mbira. I'd describe my music as more of pop, or indie pop.

C: Who are your musical icons?

T: Wow, there are so many…[long list of names]…Donny Hathaway, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson…There are just so many of them. 

C: You write your own music? What inspires you?

T: I listen to a wide range of music, pop, obviously, alternative, hip-hop, RnB, soul, and thats where I get a lot of inspiration from. I would love to start doing some collaborating and so forth but at the moment I'm trying to establish my own style and myself as an artist.

C: You were in South Africa recently, what was it like? Did you perform there?

T: Yeah it was really good, and we actually performed at the airport for first class tickets. It was kind of weird actually because we were asked to perform and we'd be given business class tickets in return, but we got them so that was cool. South Africa was really great though, it had been a long time since I was back in Africa so it was really inspiring to be there. I did want to go to Zimbabwe but there were restrictions on filming at the time so it was difficult to go. 

C: On your trip to S.A, did you find any artists that you think are really making moves there?

T: There were a few artists that I saw, I can't remember their names, but what I can say is that the music in South Africa is really upstage and there's a lot to look out for there.

C: Where do you think that African music is going, as a whole?

T: Its going! There are a lot of African artists that are making it big such as Tinchy Stryder, Dizzee Rascal, Akon though they are not necessarily making traditional African music, they are paving the way and I think soon there will be some real African artists that will begin to appear on the charts.

C: You've gone through a lot to get where you are today, what advice would you give to a young person who, like you, is aspiring to make music as a career?

T: I would, tell them to make music their number one goal, their number one dream and to work hard, because that's the only way to get anywhere. If you do that then eventually you will get noticed and you will get where you want to go. 

C: I did my research (like the good journalist I am) and found out that you used to work at Transport for London! 

T: (laughs very hard) Yeah I did, for a very long time actually! It was my period of hard work and sending money back home. My mother was like, "Is this what you do?" 

C: Did you ever get abused by a member of the public?

T: All the time! Usually it was some drunk person who'd just start yelling at me. It was a really stressful job.

Well I for one am glad that Tinashe has moved on from his TFL days, and that he is now making not only his Mom but all his fellow Zimbos (myself included) proud. One thing he said to me that I think is something that is really important for all Zimbabweans living here to think about is this, 


"There are a lot of bad things that Zimbabwe is known for, and people forget about all the things we can be proud of. That's why we need to keep working hard and be proud of where we come from so that in the future, we can make a real difference."

http://www.myspace.com/tinashemusic 

*Quite a bit now, thanks! ;-D

We'm Shy

http://www.myspace.com/wemshy 

I was in South bank last weekend after the BFI with Ellz and Vic when we bumped into the Japanese duo, Taro and Jiro, busking under the London Eye. These two English students began making music at a young age, and their passion for what they do is evident in their heartfelt performance. They are not only great musicians, but they are also two very charming young lads and it doesn't hurt that they've got some mad guitar skills as well! I can see these two taking over not only the Japanese, but also the British rock scene pretty soon.

-----WATCH-THIS-SPACE-----

P.S Taro and Jiro are looking for a drummer. Do you think you've got what it takes in talent and passion to be a part of their band? If so send them a message through Myspace and they'll be sure to get back to you.

African Music* with JJC

When you think of African music, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Is it resonating drumbeats, near-frenzied traditional dance and high pitched ululating? This is all well and good, but what if I was to tell you there is way more to African music than you seem to think?

Don't believe me? Well, lets take a look at some of my African music icons. First and foremost is the incredibly talented Oliver Mtukudzi. Born in Harare in 1952, Tuku's soulful sound is influenced by hypnotic mbira  melodies, the South African mbaqanga style and the rural trance rhythms of the Shona people. Oliver brought us hits such as Todii and the soundtrack for the Zimbabwean feature film Neria which won the M-net Best Soundtrack award in 1992 against the stiff competition of the highly acclaimed Sarafina. 

Another one of my legends is Miriam Makeba, also known as Mama Africa. Born in 1932 in South Africa, Miriam brought us classics such as the 'Click Song' and African music anthem, 'Pata Pata'. She was also a freedom fighter and testified before the United Nations about the injustices that occurred in her country under the rule of apartheid. As a result she spent many years in exile. 

The final member to be inducted into Chenai's Fabulous African Music Hall of Fame, which despite all appearances actually does exist, is the legendary Louis Mhlanga. I believe this man's music is the true definition of Afro jazz. According to his Myspace page, he not only started playing the guitar at the age of ten, but he is also completely self taught! If that isn't talent then my name is Edward Cullen and I play a vampire in Twilight. 

If the aforementioned legends are not enough to impress you, which I must say is highly unlikely, perhaps a list of all my favourite contemporary African artists will suffice? Well, there's Aya, Ayo, Nneka, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba, DJ Cleo, DJ Clock, Mujava, Malaika, Freshly Ground, Mann Friday, HHP, Trenton and Free Radical, Chiwoniso, Jusa Dementor, Sahara C, DKR and Jozi. Just to name a few.

Not only are there so many rising and shining African music stars, but we find African influences in the music we listen to today. For example, if you were a martian and you visited the planet Earth, you might be misled into thinking that hip hop, among other things, belonged to America. I, being the helpful person that I am, would be quick to inform you that, according to Davey D's 'History of Hip Hop', rap actually finds its roots imbedded deep within ancient African culture and oral tradition.

If that did not convince you of the way African music influences music today, I might even get you to listen to Leonard Zhakata's 'Hupenyu Mutoro' then Shakira's 'Werewolf', and ask you to say, "Shakira doesn't have a sungura wanna be guitar in her song," with a straight face. Another song I might suggest you listen to to further prove my point would be M.I.A's explosive collaboration with European DJs and Malawian singer trio, The Very Best, 'Rain Dance'.

So we now know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that African music is not only iconic and legendary, but is also relevant to any who would, as I do, call themselves a music junky. The question is, where is African music going?

To help me answer this most befuddling question, I tracked down Nigerian producer and rapper, JJC aka Mr Skillz. I was very hurt that I could not interview him in person, but Mr Skillz is a very busy man, so a phoner would have to do:

C: A little birdie tells me you're going to Nigeria soon...

J: Yes, I'm going to promote my new single [We are African]. Its been a long time since I was back, I'm so excited.

C: So what inspired you to get into music?

J: Music was always around me when I was growing up, at parties and so on, so it kind of came naturally for me.

C: What do you enjoy more, rapping or producing?

J: I'd have to say producing. It just the the joy of making good music that it gives me.

C: Speaking of producing, you've produced for for Big Brovas, Lemar, Jamelia and many more. What was that like?

J: I guess I was just proud to be a part of making good music.

C: Which African artists did you grow up listening to?

J: Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba, Sade... there are too many of them!

C: Who would you say is your icon?

J: Definitely Fela, his music is just incredible.

C: What's your favourite song by him?

J: I don't quite remember the name of the song, but it a really beautiful song about how we go to heaven after we die.

C: Which African artists are you listening to at the moment?

J: [laughs] I know this is going to sound arrogant but I have to say myself. I've got a new album coming out soon so I've just been going over each track to make sure it sounds good.

C: I don't blame you! I love your song [We are African]. So who do you feel are the movers and shakers of the African music industry?

J: I'd say Sway, 2 Face, and P-Square are really doing a lot in the industry at the moment.

C: Do you think African music is becoming more widely listened to?

J: Most definitely! If you go to a club in any of the big cities in England and you are bound to hear some African music played. I think this is because we Africans have managed to integrate ourselves into society by marrying across cultures and races. This means that people come to our weddings and family gatherings and get exposed to African music.

C: So where do you think African music is going?

J: African music is definitely going somewhere and I think one day, from this new generation of African musicians, we are going to see an African star rise, wit an African sound and an African voice.

C: Which African artists should we look out for?

J: Well, as I've said, its been a long time since I was back in Africa so I'm not really in touch with what's happening on the music scene. However I do know of one artists you should look out for...

C: Who?

J: ME! [laughs]

C: [laughs too] I couldn't agree more!

Check out JJC's video We Are African here.

 

 *underrated