Online Reporter
Carter Chapwanya
Arts Hub Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is blessed with an abundance of female musicians with angelic voices and equally striking beauty.
However, in recent times Shashl is proving to be on a mission to take the crown.
The First Quarter, her recently released album, is one of the best which the country has heard from this new crop of contemporary urban music female artists.
Of course, it’s important to acknowledge that Tamy Moyo, Nisha Ts, Young Gemini and the like have been doing quite well.
However, Shashl just brought the game to another level.
Could it be DJ Tamuka’s magical touch that made her latest offering a beauty?
The album is a complete fusion of mesmerising melodies that will leave one singing along to most if not all of the 11 tracks.
With love and relationships as the major themes on the album, it is easy on the ears to people from various walks of life.
Songs like Womera and Weakness speak about stingy partners and unrequited love.
These are common topics of conversation in everyday life in Zimbabwe.
Equally, songs like Muzerere and Kumagumo talk about love language, expectations and undying declarations of commitment in relationships.
Munhu Wako, a fan favorite, is a skillfully presented ‘‘nee-naw nee-naw’’ to a lover’s ex-partner.
She comically questions how the ex-partner of her partner managed to let go of such a wonderful person.
In true Shashl style, code-mixing and code-switching English and Shona is characteristic of most of the songs.
However, ME, Gyration and Shine are all fully English language tracks.
It’s not all about love.
Positive Vibes is a feel-good song that is guaranteed to have people swaying their hips or nodding their heads.
Perhaps what makes this production quite a fine feat is that she managed to create an exciting 11-track album with only two features – ExQ on Kumagumo and Skido TGS in Munhu Wako.
Fans have been saying a lot of good things about the new album.
A fan, Tinotenda Munhazu, said he was already waiting for the next album.
“If this is the first quarter, imagine what the remaining quarters will be like.
“Anyone who watches basketball knows the last quarter is always the most exciting,” he said.
Velleria Mudondo, another fan, claims Shashl style is unique.
“Her music and style are international quality, she really should work on distributing her music out of the country,” she said
After her sensational fallout with Levels and the Chillspot family, many wondered whether she would rise again.
With DJ Tamuka’s crisp production and Shashl’s enchanting vocals and performance, it’s a musical match made in heaven for connoisseurs of true art.
The First Quarter is a statement in itself, a declaration in music of her “Shashl taking over” mantra.
Mathew Masinge