Mhere celebrates successful tours

Godwin Muzari Arts Editor
The success of Mathias Mhere’s 2015 album “Glory to Glory” has brought international glory to the gospel musician.

Mhere has embarked on three successful international tours since the album gained popularity and he is set to visit two more countries for performances before the end of the year.

He graced concerts in the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa and he is scheduled to travel to United Arab Emirates for a show in Dubai before concluding his calendar with a big international concert in December.

Mhere says the year has been good for his career since he managed to clinch so many international concert deals and hopes to surpass the achievement next year.

The international tours, says the musician, have been imperative exposure platforms that will shape future projects.

Mhere’s “Glory to Glory” has been doing well on the gospel scene and the musician had a busy local gig schedule since February.

Although he is happy to have travelled to many parts of the country for shows, the musician is upbeat about the international breakthrough. He recently released a DVD of “Glory to Glory” that is set to take his gospel further.

“2015 has been a good year for me. Although I faced personal challenges at the beginning of the year, my career has not been affected and I have actually gone from glory to another. I thank God for opening floodgates in my career and I hope I will go a step higher next year,” he said.

“I am happy about the international success. God has shown us his power and we are happy to have travelled to meet our fans abroad. The shows were well-attended and I am happy that most people invited us for more shows. I am sure next year we will be able to have more tours and take our music beyond Zimbabweans in the Diaspora.”

Mhere said he has created contacts for possible collaborations with international artistes during his tours.

He said he wants to give some songs on his next album a feel that can appeal to people of various music tastes.

“I cannot say much about the musicians that we met abroad because we are still to finalise some discussions but I hope we will come up with a few collaborations with international artistes in our future projects.

“It is a learning curve and we will experiment with new styles to create music that can attract a bigger following.”

Mhere hopes to go to the level of other local gospel musicians that have made it internationally.

A number of Zimbabwean musicians based abroad that include Shingsai Suluma, Chaka Ngwenya and Reverend TT Chivaviro work with international artistes and Mhere says he will take advantage of their influence to enhance his foreign offensive.

Local gospel musicians that include The Charambas, Pastor G, Zimpraise and Sebastain Magacha have also embarked on numerous international shows over the past few years.