Here comes the rains!
Words by Alex Gwaze (Curator)
Facilitated by Alex Gwaze & Zaza Muchemwa (Writer & Director)
There is a certain vitality that enters me just before a thunderstorm. It starts when I initially smell the moisture of the dirt, grass and trees in the air. We all know that calm before the storm period when the wind lifts what’s be there all along and brings it to your attention. Just before you hear the crack of the well established cumulonimbus clouds bumping into each other. Then the blaze and glory of the lightning reminds you of your mortality with that illuminating flash (very sexy). I sometimes imagine that’s how a new artist is birthed. During that season when we’ve had too much sun and the big clouds turn grey and don’t notice the drops developing around them that will seed the young sprouts trying to reach their heights. I was stranded under a shelter during a short rain spell when an artist I had never heard before suddenly started playing on YouTube. The freshness of the music mixed with the excitement of the thunderstorm made me realize how long it’s been since I discovered a new artist. So, I decided to give the next two acts who pop up on my radar (good, bad, ugly or meh), the opportunity to chat.
The first newcomer I ran into was, Ashleigh Love, an Afrofusion artist from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Ashleigh started her career doing backing vocals for the likes of Jeys Marabini and Takesure Zamar Ncube. She has performed in several bands at the Jozi Book Fair, Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo, Intwasa Arts Festival, Bulawayo Arts and SkyzMetro FM awards. One of her debut singles, “Promises”, spent 2 weeks at #1 on SkyzMetro FM. Ashleigh is currently the lead vocalist for Image Music.
The next newcomer I ran into was Simbx M, a South African based Zimbabwean singer, song writer, producer, instrumentalist, and poet. Simbx M has worked with Sur M’, Thus Man, Meerster Group, Tsimo, uZondi, and Owa Oda, just to mention a few. His previous projects include the Suli’ Nyembezi album (2022) and Matter Of Time EP (2021). He is currently working on a new project called “Jeremiah”.
Ashleigh and SimbX M had never met before, but they talked about drugs, gate-keeping, Palestine, MUD, RnB, money and sex in their conversation.
SIMBX: I already had a topic but I’m just thinking of how to structure and phrase it.
ASHLEIGH: You came prepared (laughs).
SIMBX: (laughs) Yeah, was reading the other conversations on MUD. I’m super excited to connect with you all.
ASHLEIGH: I’m sorry I am not bringing the right sort of energy today, just really tired. Been doing a lot these days. Studying, working, singing. Do you sing full time only?
SIMBX: No. I am currently studying in SA (nothing to do with music at all), and even though I’m a full-time student, I always refer to myself as a full time musician / creative, and part-time student.
ASHLEIGH: (laughs) I see where your focus lies. What’s the market like there (as a Zimbabwean)?
SIMBX: The market here is very much gate kept.
ASHLEIGH: Really? SA is a big market for even Naija acts.
SIMBX: Yes! But it’s so difficult to get opportunities from promoters, radio presenters and playlisters, record labels – you name it.
ASHLEIGH: Uhmm, I am not surprised though. I guess I was just focusing on Shasha’s success in the Amapiano genre. And Oskido, Berita, Nadia Nakai and Bongo Maffin (you know, Jah Seed). It’s interesting because music is supposed to unite us all.
SIMBX: True! I grew up around a lot of music even when I was still living in Zim (my relocation was a family decision). I grew up most of my life in SA. I listened to everything, I wasn’t thinking about where the artist was from. But I only discovered my talent in primary school, but you know African parents will discourage you because they feel like music is not a stable career. The passion just grew from there, and also got nourished through participating in things like school choir, taking up guitar lessons.
ASHLEIGH: I can’t play any instruments but most of my performances are with a full band and some are with me and an acoustic guitarist. Full band is for bigger setups but it lacks the intimacy I get from my acoustic sets with just guitar. I grew up on Westlife and Celine Dion and Beyonce. 90s RnB you know, Joe Thomas, Craig David, Tamia, Brandy. So at times I feel like the full band setup lacks the intimacy I get from an acoustic or unplugged set. The energy is always different. Performing alone with no band means you completely rely on the energy of the crowd and if the crowd is dead you will need to put in the extra energy.
SIMBX: You know, one of my biggest goals is to perform for the Zim market, more specially because I’ve started making a lot of music in Shona.
ASHLEIGH: The Zim music market has grown considerably since there are now a lot of us in the diaspora. Most popular Zim acts actually get most of their money from performing for expats and fellow Zimbabweans making a living in the UK, Australia and South Africa. They play venues frequented by Zimbabweans or Zim festivals.
SIMBX: Yes, people are homesick and want to hear their own languages and get a taste of home. It’s risky and very expensive to go home. You are in the local market. What are some of the biggest hindrances for upcoming artists in Zimbabwe currently?
ASHLEIGH: So alright, the hindrances of the local market. I’ll just name a few. Firstly I think there’s the part when you’re actually trying to find your sound. A sound that people automatically want to vibe to in vernacular. So it’s hard because there are already people who have an established a local sound in different genres.
SIMBX: I hear that. And I think that also can be frightening because you always wonder and think whether people will like your sound if you try to make it different / unique. You know, I have found myself quite often trying to replicate certain sounds, by the time I get close to it, something else changes. The trends move and change quite rapidly. So, I’m with you in investing in your sound. It could take long but I believe pushing your own sound, something you’re satisfied with at the end of the day, is the way to go. But it can be very competitive trying to bring a new sound. I don’t know if you agree even to the smallest extent.
ASHLEIGH: I can’t call it competition per say. You don’t want to be compared to other Zim acts if you want to stand out locally. And you also want to be know globally for bringing a unique Zim sound to the world. That’s were the money part comes in. The second hinderance. For you to find the sound people vibe to you need to work with some of the best producers that understand popular sounds and how you can interpret them to reflect your personality. And express your self in a context for a wide internet audience as well. And all these people and experiments require moonneeeyyyyyy!!!!
SIMBX: (laughs) I hear you! It’s a big risk big reward investment situation. I would say everything resides on the internet nowadays. So the long way around (to finding your sound) is to become a content creator too and grow a social media presence – which can be very hard to juggle with making the music itself. That could be a way for you to find your personality become you, find your voice.
ASHLEIGH: Simba, I don’t have time for social media like that right at this stage in my life (laughs).
SIMBX: (laughs) Content creation and finding your audience takes time. It’s a full time job for some. But some musicians are now basically content creators with podcasts like Joe Budden and Gigi Lamayne. But social media is about following or creating trends.
ASHLEIGH: It’s also in music. Music is now trendy. The trend lately is to just sing about “fun”. Love, drugs, clout, money, spending, numbers and yes sex.
SIMBX: That’s the topic I wanted to bring up! The one I prepared, now you brought it up.
ASHLEIGH: (laughs) Which one? Trends? Sex?
SIMBX: (laughs) No not that but you know the one about “fun” music.
ASHLEIGH: Oh okay, what did you want to say?
SIMBX: Eish, I was just thinking of the role of music in activism. As we may all know about the ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Ukraine, DRC, crime in SA, Zim sanctions, #blacklivesmatter, a lot is going on in the world. Now back in the days, if we look at the likes of Hugh Masekela, Micheal Jackson, Nina Simone, Mapfumo, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, and Bono – their music was a form of activism. People don’t want to be out there like that. Do we still think there’s room for music to activate people in this era. Or at least say something about what’s going on, excuse the Marvin Gaye reference but you know what I mean.
ASHLEIGH: That’s a scary topic to even bring up because I think we are being policed more. And it goes back to the money. Music is big business and people are making a living of their music and don’t want to be blacklisted or cancelled. Cancel culture is real. And everyone has become soooo opinionated and people get offended by everything, so we want to be activists but keyboard warriors descend on you (laughs).
SIMBX: Sometimes I think the musicians don’t have anything to say, a lot of it – probably thanks to social media and ‘fun’ culture – has become so show off and self-centred.
ASHLEIGH: In as much as we have become one village due to globalization, at times we just don’t talk about problems happening in the world unless we’are directly affected by it. We are even afraid to talk about our problems to our friends out of fear that they might think we have mental problems (or we are struggling financially). So as a singer I don’t sing about wars going on unless they’re happening around me. Even then, if I sing about it, how safe will I be? There’s freedom of speech but no freedom after speech.
SIMBX: A few words can cost you billions #Kanye. But, I honestly think that the arts industry in general has always been quite a volatile industry to be in. There isn’t really much room for activism in this day and age but I don’t believe its because this generation is being off track. I just think the system is rigged to exploit us as tools to propel whatever mandate that the higher powers in whatever stream of the arts want to propel. If we take the phrase “sex sells” for example, we have come to believe that its true. But I once heard Cardi B talking about how all the music she released that was really from the heart never did well compared to the explicit music she has released – that was celebrated and attacked by the masses.
ASHLEIGH: Goes back to that trending thing.
SIMBX: Yeah, like you said, we have freedom to express only that which is temporary, we can’t ask questions or talk solutions. Because we will start a conversation. I’m not happy to just be background music. Historically sex selling, drugs, gangs etc, were things that record label owners and executives were involved in – mainly to generate an income to fund the music careers and get out the drug game. Now the singers are the main drug users. They are too numb to say anything from that authentic and autonomous form of expression. They settle for what is trending.
ASHLEIGH: That’s why I love singing Gospel music. God is my biggest source of everything whether it’s energy or money or ideas. You need to bring your full spirit to the music to connect with God. So you can bring the right energy to the masses. Heard you sing Gospel too?
SIMBX: I actually prefer singing about God. Sometimes love but some songs the love is actually applicable in both the romantic love relationship, and the love for God. I don’t know honestly, its always refreshing for me. You can bring your own energy to spiritual songs. And the satisfaction you receive after doing it all for God, is unmatched I tell you.
ASHLEIGH: We been talking and I haven’t even heard your music. Maybe we could collaborate and I could be your entry into the Zim market, and you for me in the SA market.
SIMBX: I love collaborations or working with other people rather. I am for the philosophy that whatever you can do, there’s someone who can do better. There are a lot of artists who are coming up but to be honest, everyone is just thinking short term money. Imagine what could be done when two artists make magic. In the long run that song could change both those people’s lives. Let me send you some instrumentals.
ASHLEIGH: I must warn you, writing music for me is sometimes hard (laughs). So there’s this road close to where I stay, I take walks on it and most of the time when I do so it’s because there’s a tune that keeps bothering me in my head. Some call it an ear worm (laughs). So I take a walk to clear my head and also hear myself think. So I can come up with the hook first then piece the song together slowly. I prefer writing to a beat though I find it much easier. Then I also write songs with my more talented song writer friends.
SIMBX: I know the feeling. I for one always write what’s in the heart. Because I’m a producer too, mostly, the beat inspires the melody and the flow. So I randomly compose flows and melodies onto the beat. Things that don’t make sense. I let that project set in for some hours or a day, thereafter I then think of a theme or a message I’d like to send. Then I write and record. What’s your voice like let me send you something that I think will fit.
ASHLEIGH: I will share a short snippet when I was doing something more vocal.
SIMBX: Okay send first then I will send you some beats and we can see what we can do.
ASHLEIGH: Great, I am excited!
Follow Ashleigh at @ashleigh_love_zw and Simbx at @simba_david_m.
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