
Latwell Nyangu
Afroz-Jazz musician Dereck Mpofu said he has come out of his shell and brought mature music.
The singer said he has become more expressive in his new song, Dear Ex featuring veteran Guitarist Clive ‘Mono’ Mukundu.
The song, which marks one of his projects this year, details a love story that was sweet until the man was betrayed by his lover who was cheating with numerous men.
Dereck has been enjoying the backstage for a year.
“This is my first project in over a year, I last had a song Idoro which featured Mark Ngwazi, Shuggeta, and Romeo Gasa.
“This is my first this year, and I am releasing a series of songs including collaborations with different artists.
“I will also be starting live shows along with Albert Nyathi and Mono.”
His inspiration was drawn from the love stories.
“Dear Ex is everyone’s story and everyone has a love story and a story of break up. So, it was inspired by the common human need to love and pain in break up.
“The song is a dark angry song and therefore we did it at night in front of a fire lit in the shape of the letter “X”.
“The songwriting and melody of vocals traditional Mbube vocals set on the trap genre on bouncing stacatto delivery.
“The main guitar in the background borrows heavily from Chigiyo (Mbira based reggae by Zig Zag band”. “And to top up the anger, Mono comes in with the moaning, groaning rock sub-chorus.
“I hope it’s therapy for the broken hearted and enables them to vent,” he said.
Dereck said he is currently doing daring music, unfiltered and unapologetic.
“All other songs that are coming out after this one will be reflective of that.
“I had to dig into a deep dark place for this one, to a time and a person that I no longer recognise.
“The fan reaction was amazing, from shock to excitement to anticipation. This is the most I have seen them excited in a while.
“All I can say is, the original version is angry, the radio edit is funny. I have come out of my shell and I am more expressive, I have matured.”
The singer rose to fame after his song “Chisikana Changu Zimbabwe” became a hit.
The popularity of the song resulted in him being appointed a goodwill environmental ambassador for Zimbabwe under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate and City of Harare.