We had a Q&A with Get Paper Boy (G.P.B) a Bulawayo duo based in South Africa. They give us insight on their music and the industry in Zim and South Africa. Who is GPB? GPB is DUO of talented Zimbabwean Musicians, Producers and Videographers. When did you become GPB? GPB was formed in 2006 after @DONGPB and @TIZZIEGPB discovered their working chemistry recording with King Krued. When did you start recording? As a Duo in 2006, as individuals @DONGPB in 1999 and @TIZZIEGPB in 2001, Who writes your music? We write our own music, it’s a collective effort. What is your subject matter? Well it varies, basically we speak on our aspirations as entrepreneurs, issues that impact us such as Love, Money the party life. Our country, the hustle, the grind, motivation, the ups the downs. How many Albums have you recorded? We have not put out an official album yet, though we are in the process of recording our debut album due early 2015. We however have release 4 mixtapes under the theme “TOUR GUIDE VOL 1, 2 ,3 and 4. How is your music being received? In South Africa we have a good following that have received our music very well and are in anticipation of our new work, internationally we have been received very well, Nigeria is a place our music is played often. Regions such as Europe and United States are places where we are gaining lots of fans who appreciate our sound . Zimbabwe our home country is slowly warming up to us, thanks to Star fm and Zifm who have constantly supported us when we release new music. How many videos have you done? We have filmed and released 7 music videos including other collaborative efforts. What artists and producers have you worked with? We have worked with various artist and producers. Our most notable is Nadia Batson a female Soca artist from Trinadad and Tobago. We have worked with LymC a music Exec from Zimbabwe but based in South Africa, he put us together with other Zimbabwe Talent such as Kapital K, Thai1, Nadia Nakai, Melymel to mention a few. In South Africa we have worked with Bass, Taps and Sticks of Khustics Media, C-live. We have also work with the amazingly talented DJNaida from Zimbabwe, Dj Solyd our head of Sound, King Krued started our careers and produced some of our hottest songs to date. What’s your take on the route hip hop fashion has taken, do you subscribe to that? Part of it makes sense, and then the other part is questionable. With each generation they are some who decide to be different and hope to push the bar. We stick to what we understand and endeavour to be different for our own cause. How was your experience working with (named producers and artist)? It has been a wonderful experience, They helped us grow as artists and add other dynamics to our artistry and yet remain true to our art. Why are you in SA and not Zim? In terms of art, SA is like the Newyork or Hollywood of Africa. Out here they are various platform of growing your passion into a business. They is not one time an artist has to follow the same blueprint as artists of yesteryear, you pick a lane and run with it. The market in South Africa compared to Zimbabwe knows how to break an artist, because the economy is a safe net, entrepreneurs out here are able to create complimentary services to the music industry that will ensure that an artist’s roll out plan is effective and lucrative. SA is where Mtvbase, Channel O, Trace tv and very soon BET Africa are located. Music is a full time business, artist are prospering and extending their passion into other industries of the economy. What are the challenges you face as a Zim artist based in SA? Obvious the industry will first serve SA artist then other countries. We are not considered as artist worth noticing and it takes us twice the work any other artist has to put in to get noticed. The other factor is that because our parent ministry back home is so disengaged from the actives in our industry, we are considered a dead industry back home and around the world. Our ministry of arts is not creating discourse that will see that Radio and TV stations in South Africa consider us for airplay. Do you have a plan to move back home full time? Yes we do, and we want to come back and contribute to the industry at any level. Are you making money from music and how? Yes we are by bookings and the publishing from radio plays. What is your take on the landscape of music in Bulawayo, and Zim in general? Well it’s a very sensitive topic. In Bulawayo we seem to be slow paced and afraid to widen our perception of what our music should be. In Zim, thus far all it sounds like is the same song going over and over again especially with the Dancehall music, however it seems to be working and if it’s not broken dn’t fix it. What are you currently working on? Well our main focus is our Debut album for 2015 it will be called “PAPER BOY BUSINESS.” @DONGPB is part of the MTN artists against Ebola initiatives that saw him land his vocals on the African version of Michael Jackson’s we are the world with, Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Sean Tizzle, EmmyGee,Iyanaya, Kaycee, Banky W, Mafikizolo, Donald, Kelly Khumalo, Yemi Alade, Danny K, Rj Banjamin, Steve Khekane to mention a few. More work is in the pipeline, and we will let yall know asap has we on it. Any Last words? Lookout for our debut album that wil only be available on our website for sale at rates cheaper than itunes. You will have to register as soon as its launched to get our album and videos. To our parent ministry, it’s time to focus on the youth and help us break barriers and boundaries. Let’s take lessons from Nigeria, SA, Kenya who have created employment by assisting the arts, in particular, music and film. youtu.be/Ur4P9yDepjg
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:39:20 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015