The Sunday News
Joel Tsvakwi, Sunday Life Reporter
UP-AND-COMING Afro jazz artiste Isaac Mwanza (36) aka Ice Mwanza says he is not deterred by the low enthusiasm of local music in Bulawayo.
Mwanza a weather man by profession as he doubles his musical career with his full time job at the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) said he is working on a new album which he described as game changer.
He started his music career way back in 2003 with the then Movip family at Movip Studios in Harare.
The Movip family were a popular music outfit when urban grooves music was still at its infancy and were behind for the rise of most urban grooves and rappers likes and Jaybone.
In an interview with Sunday Life Mwanza who once made a duet with popular South African songbird Zahara on Phendula the Shona/Xhosa version said his music career once suffered a blow.
“I was in Harare doing my weather television presentations and when I was just about to push my music career I was transferred to Bulawayo. The enthusiasm towards local music in Bulawayo is however, lower compared to Harare so my music suffered an early blow,” quipped Mwanza.
Mwanza however, revealed that he was not deterred by that.
“I was not discouraged and continued doing shows and I produced my second album titled Treasure Island whose most tracks I recorded at Mic Ablaze Studios in Bulawayo,” he said.
Mwanza said this album saw some of the tracks making hits on ZTV and Boss TV.
“My music is mostly Afro pop or Afro jazz though sometimes I put some fusion and I am working on a new album which will be a game changer in style and maturity and this time am recording with Munya Vialy the producer who did Jah Prayzah’s Jerusalem album.”
Music industry has its own challenges and Mwanza alluded to have his fair share.
“Getting promoters, air play and lack of finance to pay studio time and video shooting and lack of support from general people is one of my biggest challenges,” he said.
