Kawara unveils new album ‘Tose’

“Tose”.
From the days of the 100 percent local content on Power FM leading to the discovery of several musicians who stormed the airwaves especially the urban grooves era, Alexio was one of the young artists to capture the imagination of the nation with a uniquely soulful voice.
Back then, he collaborated with music producer Delani Makhalima on the song called “Amai” as part of a boy band called Guess.
“Amai” introduced Alexio to Zimbabwe and by the time he released the hit song “Shaina”, Alexio had already established himself as a serious artists.
His fourth album “Kana” raised his profile such that a Chinese group did a cover version of the song “Shaina” making Alexio one of the sought-after young musicians in the genre. Backed by Shades of Black, Alexio had four albums to his credit prior to “Tose” which was recently launched at a private function and in the First Street Mall.
“Tose” becomes his fifth album after enjoying nominal success with albums such as “Usazondisiya”, “Rwiyo Rwangu”, “Pfimbi Yangu” before the release of the hit album “Kana”.
The crooner opened up in between the two album launches and for him, “Tose” will go a long way.
A mixed bag of love songs, advice and hope, Tose, will prove to be Alexio’s biggest releases.
The 13-track album has already become a hit for revellers especially those who follow Alexio’s shows at the Book Café every Thursday.
“Tose is about reminding people of something we take for granted. We are one people and we will always be. Trying to separate oneself from that is like cutting a piece off a human body. We need to be one if we want things to work for the better.”
The album was recorded in four months time ahead of its release.
“I feel the time was not enough but I had already set my launch date and I had a deadline to beat,” he said.
However, listening to the album, one would definitely feel that whether it needed four weeks or more, Alexio has been working on the album for a long time.
Why 13 songs?
“I just came up with the songs and I believe in my heart and these are the songs that I think will catch my fans’ imagination,” he said.
Alexio thrives to make a difference in people’s minds.
The title track’s intro is derived from a game played by the young.
“The game is about getting a person to be a friend and that person will do the same to the next person until everyone is in the centre singing along.
“The song is about how Zimbabweans need each other, stand tall and strong enough to reach the sky.
“We need to be one as a nation, chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda, and no matter how hard life can be we will be blessed as a nation,” he said.
Alexio is inspired by life and whatever goes around in life.
“There is just so much going on in life that I believe artists should talk about. I do not think I will ever run out of ideas for as long as life goes on,” he said.
Alexio feels his music is good and he would not want to classify it.
“I prefer calling my music good music.”
Some of the tracks that would definitely appeal to all Zimbabweans include “Save”, “Chihwande-hwande”, “Chinyanye”, “Chipo Changu” and “Tose”.
Also on the album are such songs as “Mwana WaAmai”, “Paunoda”, “Se”, “Newe”, “Wadiwa”, “Gomba Remoto”, “Kuchanaya” and “Dear Sons and Daughters”.
The Shades of Black is made up of Cornie on keyboards, Isa on drums, TeeOne on lead guitar, Eddy on bass, Fatima on congas and backing vocals, Nelly on shakers and backing vocals and Roy is the sound engineer.