Drum Dada is also meaning drum connoisseur is one of Zimbabwean upcoming and influential musicians. Started his music career at 10 where he was part of a local church choir and having the chance to use music instruments his talent grew wider from just singing. Drum Dada describes his music as the New Chimurenga Music. He points out that his music is not in any way politically afflicted or but the concept behind naming naming his sound New Chimurenga music is derived from the meaning word Chimurenga which means struggle.
He quoted saying 'when i say #NewChimurenga i am referring to the everyday struggles every human being faces. My music touches a lot of life subjects, from the trial and tribulations of life issues #religion #life #corruption #loss #prostitution #poverty and other taboo subjects. I consider my music as the voice of the voiceless. I endeavor to uplift peoples souls give people hope, counsel, and inspire the ghetto children to make something of themselves through ZimDancehall is a platform which helps me broadcast my message to my fans, the children of the ghetto across the globe".
In 2012 he released an 18 track mix tape titled 'The Drum Call/ Ngoma Yorira' which was mixed and hosted by the legendary disc jockey King Alfred. The mix tape received positive feedback from the fans and music industry. A well re-owned critic Hillary Mutake of PunchLINE Music tipped Drum Dada as musical force to be reckoned in the future.
2013 saw Drum Dada releasing 2 music videos titled 'Number one Fan' featuring his label mate and award winning producer McKnife. The second video Drum Dada added to his catalogue was titled 'Zvipande'. Its now 2014 and Drum Dada has released his first studio album 'Tales of a Ghetto Child' which is a double album released on 15 march 2014 via ITunes and Google Play. The first single off the album is an international charity single 'I Cry' featuring Tyran Dillinger, released of 5 February 2014. proceeds from the single were said to be donated to The Jenny Msonza Foundation, a Zimbabwean Women's charity group based in the United Kingdom but has empowered projects operating in Zimbabwe and the Diaspora. The second single off the album features a Zimbabwean UK based artists by the name of Nash Daddie titled 'Moyo Wangu' was released 7 March 2014 and so far the 2 singles have received positive reviews from industry critics and his fans.
The 'Tales of a Ghetto Child' album will consist of top quality productions and collaborations from both Zimbabwean and international producers and artists from in and outside Drum Dada's musical play field. The album will see collaborations with UK best reggae artists Mathius Julius , rappers Nash Daddie and Brian Major, South African based Yottie-Bie, Zim Hip Hop award winner recipient rapper and producer McKnife, songstress Mod-A-Star, Azel, just to mention a few. Producers who have worked hard in the album include UK based Jusa Dementor, Jamaaican based Cutty Ranks, Canadian based Zimbirds and the Zimbabwean based producers include Dj Fidelis, Layaan, Cashlibs, DollaGettaz just to mentions a few. As for the future holds for Drum Dada, only God knows but it seems that Zimbabwe and the world i see the #newchimurenga movement grow from strength to strength.
Having the chance to be one of the first to listen to Drum Dada's album i also had the opportunity to ask him a few questions. Have a look at what he has to say...
Tynie: I understand in 2012 you were called Fada
Wemangoma and you decided to change it to Drum Dada to appeal internationally.
Why Drum Dada, does the name have a backstory?
Drum Dada: After
I got signed, my music started getting a lot of online and international
exposure and the international radio station disc jockeys in places like
Germany, Ghana and Uganda couldn't pronounce my full name properly, so my
management decided to re-brand me to Drum Dada to match the international
vision we had adopted. Drum Dada is the reversal of Fada WeMangoma in English
plus the fact that I am a proficient drum player sat well with me.
Tynie: How
did you kick start your career as an artist, apart from knowing you have talent
whilst singing in the church choir?
Drum Dada: I come
from a very musical family,so music was something which I was instilled in me
at a young age. My family always encouraged me to express myself musically. The
first song I ever recorded was called “Ndachatiswa” in 2011. The record managed
to get some airplay and it was received positively by the public. The response
from the record, made me more confident to take music as a career seriously.
Tynie: You also play instruments which one is your favorite?
Drum Dada: I
can play the guitar (bass), and drums but as my name suggests I am more
proficient in playing drums.
Tynie: Apart from legends in the Zimbabwean music industry who else inspires you to do
what you do?
Drum Dada: Apart
from Zimbabwean legendary musicians, I draw a lot of inspirations from artists like “Lucky Dube” “Bob Marley”
“Movado” “Beenie-Man” “Hugh Masekela” “Wyclef Jean” “Barbara Streitsand” “Elton
John” & “Sam Cooke”
Tynie: What do you have in store for your fans for the future?
Drum Dada: I
am currently working on material for my second album. I hope to experiment with
new sounds and maybe collaborate with some of my Zimbabwean icons. I am also
preparing for a national and international touring program (Zim, UK, Germany)
at the moment, so my fans should look out for more entertaining and educative
music
Tynie: Back to ‘tales of a ghetto child’ is this your first album?
Drum Dada: Tales
of A Ghetto Child is my first album, though I have been releasing singles for
some time now
Tynie: What made you choose the title ‘tales of a ghetto child?
Drum Dada: I
was born and bred in the Chitungwiza ghetto, so most of what I talk about in my
music is inspired by the everyday happenings of the ghetto life. It was fitting
that I name my album from the Hub which I draw inspiration from.
Tynie: What inspired you to do such a big album?
Drum Dada: I didn’t just want to
release a compilation of tracks which would wither and become irrelevant with
time. I wanted to take my fans on a musical journey. I wanted to connect with
them on their highs and lows, relate with them on their level whether be
struggles or triumphs. I also wanted to inspire and raise awareness of the
issues people in the ghetto and Zimbabweans living under the poverty line face every day, so I felt I had to come up
with a track catalogue which connected with my fans on a mental, emotional and
spiritual level with lessons which can be passed on to the next generation.
Tynie: The album has over 30 songs how much work did you have to put into it before
you got the final copy?
Drum Dada: It
took over a year to actually, produce, write, record and compile the album and
when you working with perfectionists, the quality control is rigorous. A lot of
re-recordings and alterations to the album were done to bring the final product
to an international standard.
Tynie: You have some collaboration in there what made you choose those artists over
others?
Drum Dada: Well,
I am fan of some of the producers and collaborators who are on the album. I
wanted to work with them and experiment with their sounds and at the same time
tap into their creativity. Some of the collaborators were strategically
handpicked because their art, style and delivery suited the vision of the project.
Tynie: Should we expect music videos off this album?
Drum Dada: We
are currently in the creative development stages of producing a videobook / DVD
compilation of some of the tracks on the album, hopefully by end of May-June
the world will see some of the visuals to some of the tracks on the album.
Tynie: Where can people get your album?
Drum Dada: The Digital version of album is available for downloaded via Itunes,
Amazon, Google Play, Soundcloud and Spotify, but the Hardcopy (CD) version will
be made available to selected retailers in Zimbabwe in the forthcoming weeks.
TYNIE TASHA: INSTEAD OF HEARING FROM ME, GET YOURSELF A COPY OF THE ALBUM AND MAKE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT, TALES OF A GHETTO CHILD.
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