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Arts Correspondent-Kundai Marunya

Former Chiedza Chevatendi gospel music outfit member, Gadzikwa Mazorodze, is blossoming as a solo musician, making strides on the international music scene. 

The musician, who traded the apostolic acapella style of music for guitars, has been doing well, with his music receiving decent radio and television airplay while amassing followers outside Zimbabwe in Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia, among other countries. 

Mazorodze, whose career spans from 2011, said he continued to make inroads on the international music scene. 

“I’m also building my fan base in Senegal where I recently performed,” he said. “I will soon be doing a track with a well known female gospel musician in Botswana, which will be followed by a single with a Tanzanian producer, so there is a lot on the way.” 

Mazorodze, who has been accused of sounding like Blessing Shumba, said he will soon work with the veteran singer in a new video. “I’m working on new videos including one with Pastor Blessing Shumba who also mentors me in music,” he said. “I want people to see the combination of us.”

Mazorodze showered praises on Shumba. 

“I’m aware people say I sound like Pastor Shumba, something we discussed and he told me to ignore since he is my teacher,” he said. “He helped very much in shaping my career, including encouraging me to use an acoustic guitar as my signature instrument. 

“We are so close that he even penned the chorus to my song “Takavinga Shoko” off my last album. I take him as my pastor, my brother as well and my mentor. Before any recording, I give him the song to analyse and out of love he helps me in shaping the songs further.” 

Mazorodze has been in the music industry for over a decade, starting out as a member of Chiedza Chevatendi, a group that gave him his first recording experience. 

He said he left the group to explore his guitar skills. 

“In 2016, I went solo because I wanted to use my guitar skills in recording, something that was not in line with Chiedza Chavatendi,” he said. 

“I was exposed to music at an early age, growing up in a Christian family where I used to perform at church gatherings since my father was a pastor. Even at school I was given time to perform at assembly and other platforms with the help of my former teachers.

“I used to listen to the music of the veterans in the likes of Mechanic Manyeruke, Leonard Zhakata and later on Blessing Shumba who became my mentor and decided to work with him as his backing vocalist.”

Mazorodze said the music industry was not for the faint-hearted. 

“The journey was not easy and I can say even now it’s still not easy,” he said. “As an an upcoming artiste, there is a lot on the way like people trying to compare you with established artistes. Then there is piracy which eats away at possible income.” Mazorodze said he was readying his next album to be released in December as a wedding gift to his wife. “The plan was to release a new album in August, but changed to December so that the album is released on my wedding day, on a date to be announced,” he said. “It’s a gift to my darling wife Patience Mangwiro, who is my high school sweetheart.

“We got married on December 28, 2013, and since then she has been my pillar of strength, supporting me. We are blessed with two children namely Justin-Tirivashe (7) and Jethro-Tirimunashe (3)”.