Dancehall producer cries foul PTK
PTK

PTK

Reckson Mandizvidza Entertainment Reporter
Talented and sought-after producer PTK (Platinum the Killer) is crying foul over what he believes is a raw deal which local producers are getting from their efforts in the music sector.
The 22-year-old whose real name is Michael Murumbi is one of the most successful stories if the instrumentations he has produced to date are anything to go by. He has produced for almost every big name as far as Zim dancehall is concerned including Shinsoman, Soul Jah Love and Seh Calaz.

The producer who can also sing well says while they toil to come up with the best beats, they rarely get much from it.
“We are the ones who work day and night to produce beats that can actually be world standard but all we get is more or less a bit of recognition.
“Producers make it all happen behind the scenes but at the end of the day we go home very little.

“Things are still tough and a meaningful breakthrough is just yet to come by for us to really enjoy the proceeds from our efforts,” he said.
In the local dancehall circles and even beyond, the chanters rarely have bands to perform with live instruments and the producers create different sounds which musicians use for different lyrics.

The youthful producer said the only time they make a few dollars is when artistes launch the songs which they would have produced.
“Yes it is something good to see your work being appreciated that much but it would even be better if the recognition would translate into financial terms as well because we also have to put food on the table.

“We do broker contracts with artist to have a percentage from what they earn on their album launches but still it is not really much to talk about.
“We have also started attaching studio fees but this is again just a token and nothing much so there is still a long way for us to gain something meaningful but as a person who loves music, I will always do what I love best regardless of the financial gains,” he said. To date PTK has produced some of the best riddims to ever grace the local dancehall scenes among them Final Battle which was used by Soul Jah Love on hit “Ndini Uya Uya”, Kick Yard which had hit “Minana”, Mbare Riddim, which produced Killer T’s hit “Zvakaitika kuMbare” amongst many others used by different artistes.

PTK is currently riding high with his new riddim Body Slam and he has also churned out yet another beaty called Chillslam in collaboration with another master in the business, Levels.

“We are simply showing other artists what should be done, we might be from different stables but we came together for the growth of our genre and music at large.
“There is a tendency by dancehall musicians in Zimbabwe to create unnecessary hostility amongst themselves, calling each other names and at times even being involved in bust ups for very trivial issues.

“We are simply propagating the message that there is need for discipline and working together if we are to see our music getting to the levels we want,” said PTK.
The artist who attributes his creativity to Beat Bakery Studio boss Ngoni Zindoga says music has always been in him but the mentorship of Zindoga produced the best out of him.

“After finishing my ordinary levels in 2008 I was roped in by Ngoni Zindoga who taught me everything that I know today and I will forever be grateful for his mentorship,” said the man whose riddims are always sought after by dancehall artists.

Having started his career in Mbare alongside other youths such as levels, PTK is now the producer at Highfield-based studio Bodyslam Records where he is working to bring in as many youngsters as possible under the stable and help in the development and growth of Zim-Dancehall.

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