Hip-hop artist Gwamba clinches record deal
Local hip-hop artist Gwamba, real name Duncan Zgambo, has clinched a one-year recording deal with newly-established company SOC Media Group (SMG).
Both the label and the Lilongwe-based rapper confirmed the news in an exclusive interview with Nyasa Times on Tuesday.
Gwamba is an up-and-coming lyricist who is becoming a household name on the urban music scene, while SMG is run by youthful Blantyre-based entrepreneur Mike Chilewe Jnr.
“Yes we have given Gwamba a deal, which at the moment is for a year and renewable when both parties are happy to do so,” said Chilewe Jnr.
Expressing his bliss, Gwamba, well-known for his tracks such as ‘Kwacha Chaser’, ‘Tikakumane Kumadzi’ and ‘Sindingasiye Bawa’, said the deal had come at the right time.
“I have been struggling to do a lot of things to advance my music career, but they have been made easy now. This is the greatest moment. It is what I always wanted,” the 21-year-old said.
A student at Adventist University, Gwamba added: “I’m in college and honestly money and organising big things is not easy. I believe, actually I know that this deal is a breakthrough for me and Malawians should expect the better me.”
As part of the deal, the company will be paying for the artist’s studio sessions, music videos and all types of promotions as well as managing his shows both in Malawi and outside the country.
“Gwamba has talent and we want to make sure that the talent is put to good use. His style is different,” said the SMG boss. “An album will be released during the contract period.”
Chilewe also disclosed that at the moment, they were working on the video ‘Tikakumane Kumadzi’, which he said will be “a very great video” that will go on international TV, among them Channel O.
Gwamba came in the limelight a couple of years ago as a lead rapper for capital city hip-hop group Pittie Boys and has a solo hip-hop mixtape titled Ghetto Attitude.
Fresh in the industry, Chilewe said SMG has come on the scene now because promoters or managers in Malawi have not been as active to the benefit of artists, as they just want to benefit themselves.
He said: “Our main market target is not just Malawi but we want to take our artists to international stages. From next year we are organizing some shows outside the country so that our artists get the much needed exposure.
“The label is not just all talk and no action. We believe in action. We have the passion, talent, brains, resources and network to make it happen. We won’t talk a lot, but people will see the action and judge themselves.”
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