|
|
|
|
| Entertainment |
| Artist of the week: Tom Mziya |
|
by
Nation Reporter, 06 March 2007
-
02:38:11
|
There are quiet a number of things that influence people to become musicians – some selfish and some genuine. Top on the list though is artists crave for money, fame and success.
Eighteen year old Mzuzu based R‘n’B artist T Slim real name Tom Mziya is no exception. The soft spoken young man was never born a musician as many claim; neither did he start singing at a tender age nor sang in a church choir.
T Slim realised his potential as a 14 year old during his secondary school days. Believe it or not Slim’s entry into the industry was driven by a craze to become a celebrity.
“What inspired me to realise my potential is the way people including myself idolised some R‘n’B stars. You talk of Usher, Mariah Carey, Beyonce etc…they are all famous because of music. They are celebrities and I said I want to be like them…then I have to sing,” he says.
This coupled with his dancing background, Mziya easily fitted in even though he is struggling to establish his mark in the industry.
“I grew up in Zimbabwe where I learnt how to break dance. So I would dance and compose some verses which I would at variety shows in school. Then I got encouragement from people that I had what it takes to be a good musician,” he recalls.
Those who have seen perform will agree that Mziya is a little Usher in the making and with time and support he would grow big. He is also a member of a popular music and dance outfit among young ones in the city called the MTBZ.
But it appears T Slim has found himself in the wrong place at the right time where fame he has always craved for is hard to come by. Mzuzu is one of those cities that takes time to appreciate music from its own artists.
“Musicians based in this part of the country are struggling a lot. It is hard to get noticed and get supported. We have to do things on our own and that is very difficult and painful,” he says.
T Slim also takes a swipe at radio stations who he accuses of deliberately not playing music from young and upcoming artists. It is his hope that radios will one day come up with programmes deliberately designed to promote upcoming talent.
The young man is yet to release an album as he says to be taking his time to produce a mature album. Currently he has for singles to his credit. These are Kunchengeta, Tabwera Uone, Ndikhululukireko and one simply titled Aids.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
