Personality Profile
Afro-jazz is a genre
which has seen the success of its artists reach beyond the local markets as
well as the world over. Even with such great success little is known about the
talents of the artists that have been making African musical history. Although
afro-jazz as a genre is mostly dominated by its legends with the likes of Hugh
Masekela , 31 year old Brian Nyahuma looks to be the next promising act.
Nyahuma is not a new
name in the afro –jazz community in Zimbabwe. Fresh off of high school he began
his career trying to enter the Urban Groove market. After massive criticism for
his music he enrolled into the Music Crossroads Global Academy of Zimbabwe.
“As an artist here is
where I learnt everything I needed to know about music. I grew there, I
nurtured and elevated my skills there, I am everything I am because of that
school.”
After graduating from
this college Brian wasted no time and proceeded to record his first album “So
they say”. Due to the fact he was an independent artist he funded all his
performances himself and still managed to make waves in his hometown even
though he had more criticism than actual acclamation from the rest of the
country.
After getting off on
the wrong foot with his debut, Nyahuma took more time in developing his skills
and mastery to his craft and brought forth his sophomore album “Ndazvitangidza”
which reached critical acclamation and his success began to materialize.
Constructive
criticism is the spinal cord of all progression. Nyahuma confirms through his
career he even states that, “The problem with music in Zimbabwe is that when
artists are being criticized they confuse it with slander, when we all need
criticism in order to perfect what we do.”
With success going
from strength to strength he released his 3rd album “Hausiwega”
which reached further critical success and earned him his first hit single “Uchandidachete”.
Now gaining more
sponsors he released his 4th album “Yambirika” which guest-starring Alexio
Kawara on the song “Mukana”. Thanks to the sponsors the album was launched on
July 4th 2013 at the Jameson hotel. The great reception from his
recent performance has now made him a representative for the U.N.W.T.O. in
Victoria Falls.
When
I interviewed the young vibrant jazz crooner, he showed another side of
himself. Mentioning how inexperience and finding himself as an artist where the
two things he neglected which lead to his earliest works and projects not being
well-received. However he managed to make a breakthrough, in this time of
difficulty. “Righteous minds go through this” is how he explained his
evolution. Mr Nyahuma was kind enough to share some of his experience and
advice with this interview.
At what age where you sure you wanted to do music?
“I
loved music in my youth, but late in my adolescence approaching my 20’s was
when I was sure I wanted to do music.”
Seen as how now a decade has gone by can you explain
if whether or not if you are pleased with where you have reached or did you
expect more from this career by this age
“To
be honest I have always been very confident in myself as an artist. I had
written enough songs to know that I was perfectly capable of achieving success.
Although I won’t lie trying to please people really lead to my first taste of
failure. And obviously I knew I had a lot to learn and I needed more time to
grow and develop myself as an artist.”
Indeed. With that being said what was the genre of
your first album?
“My
first album was an urban grooves album. I was very desperate to have a fan-base
I needed a single on the charts of the prominent radio stations in Zimbabwe
namely PowerFm, and RadioZimbabwe.
However
when the project was released it was not well-received. None of the singles got
any plays or any radio requests. This was devastating for me.”
Out of all the criticism you got for that project
which piece of criticism in particular can you say you benefitted the most
from.
“There
was one person who mentioned how I should refrain from using digitally produced
afro-pop instrumentals and stick to my acoustic sound. Out of all the songs in
that album the one i performed with live instruments was the only decent song.
So I developed my song writing and my composition with different instruments.
Through
this my ears became very inspired by Jazz. I made Small Ep’s that were never
released where i recorded my earliest live jazz compositions. I had more and
more jazz sessions. These sessions along with the guidance of other artists
helped developed my sound.
At this very moment what is Afro-Jazz to you?
“My
salvation.”
What is the next Chapter for Brian Nyahuma
“I
am going to continue putting out more quality music. I learnt my previous
shortcomings. I must keep evolving and become the best entertainer I can be. I
feel i wasn’t given this for nothing.”
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