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SUNGURA music doyen Alick Macheso has been trending since the launch of his new album, Kupa Kuturika, on August 2. Macheso has adopted a strategy of releasing songs on this six-track album separately, with only four songs now uploaded on his YouTube account.
This has seen the entertainer dominating conversation in showbiz with others now questioning his credentials as the king of sungura music. H-Metro Correspondent REST MUTORE (Q) sat down with Alick Macheso (AM) for an exclusive, no-holds-barred interview, and he addressed all the issues around the new album. Wait, he also spoke on the trending Rufaro Stadium video.
Read on…
QUESTION: To begin with, you have recently commissioned a borehole in Dzivaresekwa (Harare). Talk us through that initiative.
ALICK MACHESO: Well, we came up with that idea with our partners that is Pacific Cigarettes Company and Jive Zimbabwe. I chose DZ because that’s the community that received me when I came to Harare early 80s. I was a good feeling seeing people, who are also my fans appreciating the gesture. It’s something that we intend to keep doing, and with partners like Pacific Cigarettes, ndakutovati zviredzo zvemvura.
Q: What do you want to say to other artists out there and the corporate world with regard to these community social responsibility initiatives?
AM: I want to take you back, I once had a fundraising concert for Chitungwiza Hospital, and when I engaged other artists, they refused to be part of the initiative and I did it alone and it was a success. For the second edition, most of them now wanted to participate and we ended up performing half songs (laughs). What I’m trying to emphasise here is that zuva rimwe hairiodzi nyama, let’s do our part in empowering our communities and if we engage the business world, they are always there to assist.
Q: That’s great. But, I want us to discuss more on the new album Baba Sharo. It seems there is a section of fans or should I say critics, that are not happy with your new project. What’s your response to that?
AM: Generally, in life, you can’t make everyone happy. That’s the nature of life. And critics or vaya vanomhura vakashota chinhu chacho hachiendeki.
They actually add fuel to the fire; a vehicle starts with a spark, for the engine to run you need that spark. Saka kushora ikoko kunonaka kwatiri, tinokuda.
I actually pay attention to the criticism or should I call it denunciation somehow, it gives me the energy to be a better artist and keep working hard.
Despite being in the game for all these years, I learn every day. But, we are used to it (criticism), what I know is there are others out there who are enjoying the new music.
It’s unfortunate that everyone is now a music expert, get me right I don’t have a problem with that, that’s why takati isu chedu hubvonga chete, kushata kana nhapitapi vachadudzira ivo.
Q: Does the criticism affect you in any way?
AM: Pakabuda first song yakabva yatotanga kubhembwa, that’s what shows us that this is new music and we are actually happy about it. What I only condemn are sponsored critics, there are others who never see anything good in Macheso or this other artist.
You can actually see that this is orchestrated, because it’s the same people, using the same way.
They always say good about you when they want to sell their content. Today the same person is saying Macheso is a legend, tomorrow it’s the opposite. And they do it mentioning other artist’s name, I will not mention names because we are used to this. I have been in this game for so long.
Q: That was my next question. The issue of comparison, there seems to be a comparison between you and the new crop of sungura artists. Word in the streets is that the new generation is taking over.
AM: I am not and was never in music for competition. Ndiripo kurwisa mumunda mangu, ndoti ah tarira bagwe ririmo iro. This issue of comparison has seen a number of musicians with potential failing to make it over the years.
This is not new, it happened before but I am still here. It is happening now, and the time will come kana Mwari vatichengeta, you will come with the same question, ndoti honaka Mutore, I am still here.
We sing for the same audience and it is always important to embrace each other, taking the rivalry or competition path ndaona zvisina kuperera vamwe zvakanaka.
Besides the so called (music) analysts, I have also seen other artists or their camps doing these comparisons, well it’s their strategies we no issues with it but that doesn’t stop of us from sharing our experiences.
Artists can’t do the comparisons or blow their own trumpets because they are not the owners of this work (music), let’s leave it to our fans.
If you do that, there is a problem and it shows you are immature, isu tobva tati uri mafikizolo, because those with experience won’t do that.
An artist should compete with his or her own work and aim to be better in every new project.
Uchasiya munda wako uchirarira nesora, kwangu hakuna, uri kutoita maricho kumapindu angu, paunozopepuka nguva inenge yapera, unoti dai ndaka.
Run you own race and stop focusing on others.
Q: But others believe that brings life or should I say energy to the music industry. And, it’s something that has been there over the years.
AM: Every artist has his or her own strategy. It’s not like I am telling them what to do, I am just sharing my experiences. If it worked for one artist, it doesn’t mean it will work for the other.
Q: Others believe this is no longer the Macheso we know. They are saying they want the Alick Macheso of yesteryear. They want the Macheso who gave us Shedia, the one who gave us Mwari Wenyasha.
AM: Let me give you an example of clothing, are you wearing the same design those who lived in the early 80s used to wear?
Cars are even evolving but it’s the same brand and still there are others who cry for the old model, that’s the nature of life as well.
That is the same with music, so should I reproduce Shedia or Charakupa nekuti yakanakidza?
The good thing is the songs are still there and they can still listen to it, but we have to give them new music.
The same people who are saying give us Chikwambo, we want that, are the same people who will say ah chazopera manje chitubu chiya, chazopwa.
I have made two steps forward and someone wants me to make 3 000 steps backwards, ndenge ndichiitei.
What I’m saying is we have our own formation at Orchestra Mberikwazvo, it’s the same with football. And, when the coach realised that the formation is now familiar, he changes and finds another winning formula, because the idea is to always win.
Those who remain stuck in the past become punching bags. On that issue, I would say tiri bho pahu wrong hwedu. As an artist you should not be predictable.
Q: There is also the issue of originality in sungura, many have been accused of trying to sound like you.
AM: I am not worried about that, I condemn it because I want that certain artist to make it in the industry.
That’s why we used to have auditions when we started music at record labels like Gramma.
The likes of Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi (the late) managed to produce hits all those years because of originality.
The producers would listen to your melodies and tell you izvi zvakaridzwa kare izvi, give us something new.
Q: What’s going on releasing songs separately. It’s now two weeks after the album launch but other songs are yet to be released?
AM: My management came up with this strategy. We sat down and agreed to release the album that way.
It’s our marketing strategy, and we decided to release the songs on intervals. Our true fans are not even mad with this decision, it’s those that want to reap where they did no sow.
They already had thousands of bland CDs and flash discs on the day of our album launch, tinenge tichitovaziva vamwe vacho.
The pirating machines were already on standby, and the idea was for one to just get a CD at the launch and then come back to make a killing at the launch.
It’s those people that are angry. They couldn’t pirate a single song, that’s why vakazvimba bhibho.
Pavaitarisira kudya pakadirwa jecha, vaifa nekurohwa dai vakada kuzvizama kutengesa one song.
Q: But it is being said you had not finished the album?
AM: I have heard about that, hanzi hee hakuna haasati apedza but we are not going to back-off.
The album was ready way before the album launch. Now we are focusing on the future and we will not pay attention to that.
I also encourage fellow artists to keep focused and keep entertaining our fans.
Q: So is this strategy working? Are you happy with the outcome?
AM: Very happy, it’s paying off because we are getting something from those YouTube views.
It’s not easy to record an album and go on to launch it.
It needs a lot of money. Surely we can’t let people enjoy our sweat, we are now even strict with those that take videos at our live performances.
They come to our shows and upload our content on their YouTube accounts while we are still on stage.
On some occasions we end up being hit by copyrights or fail to monetise our content, imagine kunzi zvinhu zvako hazvisi zvako, just imagine.
So when we said we don’t want cameras at our shows anymore, unless you are an accredited journalist from a recognised media house, there was a lot of criticism. It’s the same people.
Q: What do you think can be done to deal with this?
AM: I think authorities really need to protect us in that regard.
I also think we need to engage as musicians and come up with a solution on how we can deal with that.
Unity is power and I know we can achieve something if we work together.
Q: On a lighter note, you are trending with that video from Defence Forces celebrations at Rufaro Stadium.
AM: Oh (laughs), it’s part of showbiz, we are used to that and when you see a fan in that mood why not invite her and showcase her talent. Kuratidza zvavo chipo chavo kuvanhu.
Q: But you ended up blocking her and …
AM: Ndaida kuti angoti turu, vanhu vofara zvavo but you know it was a family event and ndakazoisa shedhi.
Bongani Ndlovu