Where’s the love for Romeo?

28 Aug, 2016 - 04:08 0 Views
Where’s the love for Romeo?

The Sunday Mail

Prince Mushawevato
ROMEO Gasa might not be the most famous sungura musician but he certainly is one of the most hard working and innovative. Overseas, The Beatles, the most famous English rock band, took a new rock sound to the United States and were also one of the first bands to really experiment lyrically. Back home, sungura king Alick Macheso — at the turn of the millennium — introduced Congolese chanter Jonasi Kasamba to the genre and that won him fresh followers.

Equally Jah Prayzah has created a difficult-to ignore sound that does cannot really be pigeon-holed in a single genre. Now Gasa, part of a group of sungura artistes battling to bring back the yesteryear glory of this type of music, appears to be taking notes from these success stories.

The musician could be the first to infuse female backing vocalists in sungura. Female vocalists have been at the periphery of sungura and Gasa — who has five albums under his belt —is giving them a more prominent role in “Bho Zvekuti”, the album he will launch on September 9 in Harare.

Derided by some as a Macheso/Tongai Moyo wannabe, naysayers have been unappreciative of what Gasa has done in his eight years in the business. He wants to take sungura forward rather than keep going in circles.

“I now have a different type of sungura. I did not run away from the founding principles of the genre but I have come up with a new style. I noticed sungura artistes, both veterans and upcoming, are monotonous and that has contributed to the decline of the genre. Also some of the messages in the songs are no longer compatible with modern trends,” explained Gasa.

“In ‘Bho Zvekuti’, I added female backing vocalists to my otherwise powerful vocals. I’m now singing modernised sungura that appeals to all generations. The new album comes as a result of major changes that I have made to my music, which also includes the use of traditional drums and a Congolese, Ariana ‘Dispatch’ Johnson as a backing vocalist.”

This writer sampled seven of the yet to be released tracks; namely “Nhamo Haina Zera”, “Varume Munoshusha”, “Kugona Ndekwenyu”, “Chihuta Changu”, “Rudo Vaviri”, “Zano” and “Anyumwa Bere Nderake”.

Gasa could be on to something good here, and the beat remains heavily rooted in sungura. Despite Gasa and his group, Extra Valembe, proving themselves, not once but twice on grand the stage by winning Music Crossroads Zimbabwe and Chibuku Road to Fame in 2007, fame and fortune have been elusive.

But to their credit, they are not giving up and Gasa has vowed to soldier on until he gets due recognition. “I wish people would just pay a little attention to my work, understand what Romeo Gasa is about and what he does. That little attention will definitely win me fans forever,” said the singer.

Gasa had a nasty fallout with his recording company two years back, forcing him to cancel shows after his instruments were seized on allegations of a breach of contract. He was chucked out of the company house and endured several weeks of destitution, unable to fulfil shows and with no place to call home.

As if that was not enough, the musician’s public address system was stolen this year by people he says knows. “It took me time to assemble the complete set and losing it just like that is so devastating. I know the people who stole my kit but the courts keep on further remanding them and I have lost hope of recovering it,” he said.

Gasa continued: “Every game has politics and that includes the music industry. We encounter a number of challenges, some you get to directly witness them while in some instances you get to realise later that you have been duped. But that’s all part of life. The important thing is never to lose focus.”

His new management, led by Boniface “Chief” Chisvine, and his assistant Cynthia “Cisqo” Mukonyora, believe stardom beckons for the sungura artiste.

“Things have changed from the time I came in as part of the management. Discipline has improved since we now have a code of conduct and professionalism is now the order of the day. We treat everyone equally regardless of their relationship to Romeo.

“I notice Romeo is talented, for his case it’s not just about effort but talent also. What he just needed was proper guidance and everything is now falling into place,” said Chisvine, known in music circles as Bonnie Ruwa.

Gasa’s eighth album will be launched at Pensao nightclub.

Extra Valembe was formed in 2006 and the group embarked released its debut album, “Sungura Kompressor”, in 2008. The core of Extra Valembe consists of of Romeo’s siblings — Talent, Obey, Ronald and Admire. Romeo doubles as the lead vocalist and bass guitarist, while Talent plays the lead guitar.

Admire is on the drums, Ronald does the backing vocals while Obey is a chanter-cum dancer.

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