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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected] 

GOSPEL artiste Kwanele Moyo, serving as the director of Miracle Records School of Music in Gwanda, has initiated a programme dedicated to nurturing emerging artistes into seasoned professionals. 

Moyo launched his studio in November 2022, which reached full operational status earlier this month. He expressed that the endeavour aims to bridge the existing gap in artiste development within the mining town, attributed to a scarcity of professional music studios. 

The studio provides a suite of services, including recording sessions and lessons on musical instruments.

“One of the most important things in music is having a professional music studio. A music studio is where artistes cook and edify their products to come up with state of the art content. It’s also where artistes grow. When I moved to Gwanda I realised a gap and I started mobilising resources to open up a studio. The project started in November 2022 but it became fully operational at the start of this month after I managed to purchase some equipment. 

“Through this music studio we want to produce professional musicians for both singers and instrumentalists. For now we are teaching keyboard playing, mbira, guitar, drums and we will be introducing saxophone lessons soon. More instruments will be introduced as we go on. We want artistes to commercialise their activities. Singing for charity is good but we want artistes to have a business mindset, even the emerging ones,” he said.

Moyo said that the studio will serve as a catalyst for budding artists to discover and hone their talents. 

He highlighted that the absence of professional studios, particularly in smaller towns, poses a significant barrier for many hopeful musicians on their path to professionalism. 

An artiste inside Miracle Records studio in Gwanda

Additionally, Moyo revealed plans for the studio to incorporate a music shop, offering a selection of instruments to musicians. He assured that the instruments provided would be of high quality, thereby facilitating the creation of superior musical works. Moyo also noted the importance of guiding emerging artistes in choosing the appropriate instruments for their craft.

“We want to scout for talent within the community and schools so that we catch the youngsters at a tender age and groom them with the mindset of becoming professional artistes. We have some youngsters who are in schools who have a lot of potential and if we don’t nurture such individuals then that talent will go to waste.

“The music industry is a viable industry which can become a career but what is needed is to present the upcoming artistes with an opportunity to grow. The target is to produce artistes that are relevant to the international market. Artistes can also make money through being backing vocalists. We want to expose the artistes in all possible career opportunities which they can explore,” he said.

Moyo conveyed that, given the nascent stage of his project, he is actively engaging in the recruitment of students for enrolment at the studio. He is leveraging a variety of social media platforms to promote his services.

Embarking on his musical journey in 2006, Moyo debuted with his an album titled “Who am I” in 2008. His musical repertoire expanded with the release of Hlala nami in 2020 and Million blessings in 2022. Currently, he is in the creative process for his upcoming fourth and fifth albums, Khaya lami and Ithemba.

Moyo’s vision extends beyond his own artistry; he aspires to cultivate a work ethic and professionalism among new artistes. He advocates for the integration of contemporary marketing strategies, including the use of social media platforms, and the adoption of current musical styles to ensure that emerging artistes can stand shoulder to shoulder with established musicians in the industry. -@DubeMatutu