Zim heavyweights ready for summer album releases

Bruce Ndlovu
With the coming of the month of September, the winds of winter are finally blowing away and those that love the great, sunny outdoors will be soon coming out to play.

While it is now spring, summer is knocking on everyoneaï¿½ï¿½s doors and the colourful styles and fashion that characterise this period of the year will soon be in full bloom.

With that comes a party atmosphere that engulfs the whole country as people put behind the hibernation of those long, cold winter months behind.

Every summer however, needs a soundtrack and all indications are that the usual suspects are readying themselves for releases that will once again shake the Zimbabwean music landscape.

Nothing changes and affects the Zimbabwean music landscape than the festive period. It is during this time of the year that the countryaï¿½ï¿½s heavyweights set their sights on the charts, readying themselves for releases that will dominate during the lucrative festive season.

As the days and weeks tick by, the giants of the countryaï¿½ï¿½s music scene have their eyes on the prize, sharpening their arsenal in state -of- the- art studios as they prepare to take a bite of the festive season pie.

Jah Prayzah, largely seen as the leading man in the Zimbabwean music industry was fastest out of the blocks, having already signalled his intention to release an album on 13 October.

This album comes at a crucial time for the Mudhara Vachauya hit-maker, as he tries to strike a balance between satisfying his fans at home and also cementing his position as one of the continentaï¿½ï¿½s current rising stars.

aï¿½?Seventy percent of the content on this new album is the traditional sounding Jah. The other 30 percent will see me cater for a different segment, the regional and international market so that they too can have something to look forward to when the album drops,aï¿½? Jah Prayzah told our sister paper Sunday Mail last week.

While Jah Prayzah has been open about his intentions for an October album release, the man seen as the closest challenger to the throne, Winky D, is still keeping his cards close to his chest.

Since he reinvented himself as the Gafa two years ago, Winky has released two albums in as many years, both of which have dominated during the December period. On the eve of yet another festive season, Winky has been teasing fans with a new song, MaDrinks Mu Cup, at his live shows.

The staraï¿½ï¿½s manager, Jonathan Banda however, would not acknowledge whether live performances of the song would lead to an album release. Prior to the release of his album last year, Winky had been performing the song, Twenty Five, at his gigs.

aï¿½?Unfortunately I canaï¿½ï¿½t reveal anything at the moment. We love to keep the people guessing,aï¿½? said Banda.

Veteran Oliver Mtukudzi has also signalled his intention to give the young music upstarts a run for their money with his 67th album.

aï¿½?The album is called Hanyaaï¿½ï¿½ga, and it means concern. If you canaï¿½ï¿½t have concern in life then how are you going to learn?aï¿½? Mtukudzi said.

After a number of chart topping singles, songbird Ammara Brown has also promised to join the scramble for festive supremacy with an album set for release on 1 October. .