Gasa launches “Code 263”

Sungura musician Romeo Gasa this week launches his sixth studio album, “Code 263”.  The album will be officially unveiled on Star FM this Thursday.

After the Star FM launch, the singer will attend a mix and mingle event at Harare’s Time & Jazz Café, where he has a weekly slot dubbed “Executive Sungura Nights”.

May 25 will see Gasa make another play for the big time when takes “Code 263” to Chinhoyi Stadium in a gala-like event.  Radio Zimbabwe will power that gig, which will be sponsored by motor spares company Vatcane Tide Motor Spares. Artistes who will join Gasa on stage in include First Farai, Simon Mutambi, Peter Moyo, Tatenda Pinjisi, Carlos Green, Mark Ngwazi, Jah Signal and veteran dancehall star Sniper Storm.

Gasa believes “Code 263” will take his career to the next level.

“I have tried to make everything different in every sense this time around. We are launching the album differently and the music is a bit different because of some new additions on our sound,” said Gasa.

“The Chinhoyi Stadium event is a tribute to my hometown fans. This is my way of saying thank you to them. They have supported me through thick and thin.”

In “Code 263”, the singer incorporates an acoustic guitar and keyboards, which is rare in hard-core sungura music. This is in addition to the use of female backing vocalists like in his previous offering, “Bho Zvekuti”.

“I now have a different type of sungura, which I’m calling ‘Sungura International’, after adding a new set of instruments to my sound. Our touch remains the same but very much enhanced,” he adds.

Time & Jazz Café proprietor Josphat Hozheri, known as Big Josh in entertainment circles, says: “We have been pushing to introduce sungura to upmarket people and I’m glad we are slowly getting there.

Romeo’s new project has been tactfully crafted and will easily cater for diverse markets. I’m inviting everyone to grace the mix and mingle event on May 24 after the Star FM launch at Time & Jazz Café. Those that will fail to make it for the mid-week event can still be part of the Chinhoyi gig,” said Big Josh.

Songs on the eight-track album are “Mr Brown”, “Anochema”, “Mashura”, “Ndinokuda”, “Mbiri”, “Zviroto”, “Valembe Moto” and “Ziso Remoyo”.