Nde’feyo unveils new singer Armstrong
Malawi’s record company, Nde’feyo Entertainment, have officially unveiled their new signing, 20-year-old Afro R&B singer Sopani Armstrong Kalua, better known by his middle name on stage.
The Blantyre-based lad, currently residing in the township of Chilobwe, has joined Maskal, Piksy, Biriwiri and Maziko Band on the record company’s roster.
Armstrong, a multitalented singer-songwriter, rapper and dancer, signed his record contract with Nde’feyo Entertainment in September.
The label says they had wait to officially unveil the artist as he was still in the studio finalizing his singles ‘Sinditha Kumvetsa’ and ‘Ndamusowa’ which are now out for promotion ahead of his untitled album release.
The company’s co-director, Khumbo Munthali, describes the artist as “another rare gem” at Nde’feyo Entertainment.
“He has a lot of potential and we are excited to have him on our label,” Munthali says in a statement made available to Nyasa Times. He adds: “We’re also excited with the task ahead of nurturing this great prospect”.
On his part, the singer says he is so excited to have a record deal with the country’s top record company.
“I don’t regret signing [a record deal] with Nde’feyo Entertainment,” Armstrong says as he expresses his bliss.
“I felt honoured the day I signed the deal with Nde’feyo. It’s more of a dream coming true because I’ve been looking forward to a proper management, direction and promotion,” he adds.
In an interview with Nyasa Times, the artist further promises to give out his best to music lovers in the country and across borders.
He says he wants to get music awards for Malawi, whose music industry, growing at a snail’s pace, still lags behind even on the African continent.
“Malawi is yet to make an impact, even in the Channel O music awards. I want to get nominations and win awards for my country,” he says.
Armstrong started his career as a dancer with God Soldiers Dancing Group (G-Soldiers) and won the 2006 Sprite Dancing Competition before he discovered his talent in rap music and joined a hip-hop gospel group called BBM Clique (Blessed Beyond Measure) in 2008.
After releasing a couple of famous tracks with BBM Clique, among them, ‘By my Side’, and ‘Random Thoughts’, he went solo and started working on a secular hip-hop mixtape called ‘Beyond Limits’.
He then switched to singing in 2010 and in 2011 he released his first R&B singles titled “Beautiful” featuring renowned rapper Young Kay and “Without Your Love”.
With his melodic voice and well-crafted hooks in vernacular Chichewa, Armstrong has already caught the attention of urban musicians such as BarryOne and Blasto. He has featured them on their tracks ‘Ulendo’ and ‘Sexy Lady’, respectively and he performed with both artists at the 2011 Lake of Stars international music festival in Mangochi.
He is expected to release his debut untitled album in the first half of the year 2012.
His music is currently available for free downloads onwww.reverbnation.com and on the following links:http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10198047
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10203487