Patriots is an upcoming Zim Dancehall Artist taking the music industry by storm. His most popular hit, Nguva has become popular on the airwaves with both presenters and audiences.
Patriots, real name Tawanda Mamvura was born in Rusape in 1997 and is currently an electrical power engineering student at Harare Polytechnical College.
Tsikdem Communication caught up with the artist for an interview below:
What inspired you to pursue a career in dancehall music?
I was inspired by listening to other artists’ music. I realised there was a void in Zim Dancehall music and decided to fill the gap by bringing in a unique preaching aspect to the genre. Besides entertaining fans, I saw it fit to provide the audience with messages that resonates with their daily lives in a preaching fashion.
How would you describe your unique style?
My style is inspired by life realities. The day to day events foster my creativeness and informs my work. My music have a way to speak to everybody in a different way since people have different world-views.
What are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your artistry?
Jahmiel from Jamaica, and locally, Winky D and Freeman have so much influence on my musical life. The trio produce good music which is not limited to age groups and which is timeless. I decided then to take my artistry journey along the path of these legends.
Can you share the story behind your stage name and its significance?
Patriots in the sense of oneness and unity in the music. The paramount significance is to bring people together through timeless music.
How do you approach songwriting and what themes do you often explore in your lyrics?
As I mentioned earlier on, my songwriting is premised on real life scenarios. This might be the struggles that people face everyday or the godness that life may offer and how they embrace every situation. The ups and down in life give me the motivation to pen music that speaks to every situation and motives or sooth the situation as the case may call.
What is your creative process like when producing and recording music?
My creative process is not rigid but flexible and it is not static for each and every song. Some of the songs came to me in a dream and sometime it can be just an impulsive thought that triggers me to start start writing. At the end of it all, the music speaks to the social fabric of audiences.
How do you stay true to your artistic vision in the face of industry pressures and expectations?
Music is more of a hobby to me. The lyrics flow freely from my heart with little effort on my part. The industry pressures have no major impact on my person as music freely come and I freely give. However, as an upcoming artist scaling new heights takes more time and commitment and I believe that my creativity ability will take me yonder.
What’s been the most challenging experience in your music career so far, and how did you overcome it?
My biggest challenge is shortage of money to finance recording and marketing of the music as an upcoming artist. So as to overcome the challenge, I work extra hard in my hustles so that I save little for the music.
How do you engage with your fans and build a loyal following?
I engage fans most of the time on social media platforms such as on Facebook and I take time to respond to all of them sincerely. Those who I meet physically, I greet them and gladly accept if they request to take photos with me.
What’s your take on the current state of dancehall music and your place within it?
Dance hall music is looking like it is losing popularity in comparison with previous years. The competition is high but some of the music is substandard. I aim to make a mark in the genre, be part of the artists who resurrects dance hall and as well, inspire people to fall in love again with the genre.
Patriots can you share any exciting upcoming projects or collaborations?
I am working on a music video of the song Chikoro, and will feature Fyah Jalo.
How do you balance your music career with other aspects of your life?
Balancing music career and life outside music is a mammoth task. Sometimes I genuinely feel like music shuts me out of social lifestyle. Fans sometimes can not seperate me from my art, they expect me to sing their favourite song or perform some freestyles evertytime and place we meet not lnowing sometimes I will be having problems in personal life just like any other being.
What message do you hope to convey through your music and artistry?
With my music, I aim to inspire people to be kind and compassionate towards one another and spread love. The world can be a better place if humans become considerate.
How do you handle criticism and negative feedback?
Every criticism and negativity has an ounce of positiveness. In face of such incidents, I focus on my goals and draw lessons from the nuances of positivity.
What advice would you give to aspiring dancehall artists just starting out?
I would say, music is a long journey and it takes time to reach the peak. Consistency is a virtue and should be the key to stardom.