Home Music & Dance Urban Beat KuShaina kwa Alexio Kawara


Banner


KuShaina kwa Alexio Kawara Print E-mail
Music & Dance - Urban Beat
Friday, 21 November 2008 02:23

Alexio KawaraHe is the man behind the hit song "Shaina" which is currently doing mad crazy damage on the local charts and is one of the most played and requested songs on Zimbabwean radio right now. He is a National Arts Merits Award (NAMA) and Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) award winner. He music has gone beyond our borders and even though he has gone further than most Urban Grooves artists, he says his journey is only just beginning...

That journey, into the world of professional music, began in 2000 when Alexio teamed up with three other guys to form the group Guess. They recorded a number of singles including Amai, which was an instant hit, topping the charts for almost the whole year.

Alexio later decided to go solo, and this gave birth to a new sound, inspired, he says, by life itself. This "Alexio" sound embraces jazz, rock, reggae, dancehall, rap and contemporary R&B. However, Alexio’s music has been classified as “Urban Grooves", a genre that gained a foothold in Zimbabwe around the turn of the new millennium. Urban Grooves includes elements from many genres, and it has become the soundtrack for a new generation with its own ideas, fashions and lifestyle.
         
Alexio and Tererai

^ Winning combination: Alexio's duet with Tererai Mugwadi, Tinodanana, was voted Outstanding Song for 2006 at the National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA)

Alexio is one of the musicians that have defined Urban Grooves. His first solo project,  Usazondisiya, was an early success story. Two songs on the Album”, Ndinomhanya and Kumba Kwenyu  became club anthems. Alexio instantly became one of the most popular artists in Zimbabwe, helping to put Urban Grooves firmly on the music map.
 
His second Album, Rwiyo Rwangu, was released in 2003. This was also another commercially successful Album, even though the anticipated hit songs were not the ones that rocked the airwaves, Unexpectedly for the producers, Chibvugubvugu, the third single off the album created some huge waves on radio. It even made it as far as Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.

Alexio and his mother

^ Alexio thanks his mother for her support


Alexio was silent for two years. Then, in 2006, he came back with a banger of an album, Pfimbi Yangu-My Secret Place, that went on to become Album of the Year. The Album was produced by emerging versatile producer Macdee (2006 ZIMA Producer of the year Award winner). One of the popular tunes on the album was Tinodanana, a love duet with Tererai Mugwadi (2005 ZIMA Best Female Urban Groover Award winner). The single is still a favorite of many. That year ended on a high note for Alexio when he took home a total of four awards:

  • Outstanding Album
    National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), 2006
  • Outstanding Song
    National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA), 2006
  • Best Urban Grooves Artist
    Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) 2006
  • Song of the year
    Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) 2006

And what's been happening in 2008? Alexio has finished working on his fourth Album Kana, the 4th Coming. Kana is Shona for fourth. The Album was launched at 7 Arts Theatre on Friday 29th August. Kana is set to be Alexio’s first international release.

On this Album he features Clive Mono Mkundu, a talented guitarist and a producer who used to be with Oliver Mtukudzi’s Black Spirits. Other guests on the Album include Andy Brown, Sebede, Newman Chipeni and Phillip Svosve, who used to be a member of James Chimombe’s Ocean City Band.

Launch of Alexio's fourth album, Kana

^ Launch of Alexio's fourth album, Kana, at the 7 Arts Theatre in Harare

The first single, Nyaya Yerudo is already making waves on radio. Karwiyo Aka has a brilliant video to go with it. Shaina, a song whose exlploits have already been mentioned, is another song off the album. It is a song of hope for all Zimbabweans, calling on people to "shine" wherever they are.  Other Songs on the Album include Amai, Famba and Umu.

From the days of Usazondisiya up to now, Alexio has established himself as a prolific songwriter and performer with a voice that has won the hearts of many. His talent has opened big doors for him and he has performed at a number of national events including the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), and various private and corporate functions.

Alexio describes his musical career as a Journey that has just begun, a journey whose ups and downs have made him stronger. He has a passion for music and creativity and has plans to set up a Recording Studio to record other Artists. In the near future Alexio is planning a tour of Africa. Countries on the schedule include Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, and Tanzania.



Share this page...



Comments
Add New Search
+/-
Write comment
Name:
Email:
 
Website:
Title:
 
:D:):(:0:shock::confused:8):lol::x:P:oops::cry:
:evil::twisted::roll::wink::!::?::idea::arrow:
 
Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.
batsi  - SHAINA   |2008-11-24 11:08:08
brilliant song congrats Alexio but what happened to my favourite song...ini
ndazobvuma...yes that one
Chichi   |2008-12-09 11:52:17
Shaina best song Alexio has done, The album is just out of this world...
moreblessing   |2009-01-06 19:06:26
you did a great job on the song shaina.i like your brains inofunga
zvinospaka B)
courage   |2009-01-12 07:20:43
shaina rocks, nothing beats it trust me,..deserves to be song of year both nama
and hifa
bebe mangwanya  - thats hot stuff bro   |2009-01-19 10:59:30
of all your albums shaina is the hottest of them all.Thats more than gud bro.
BATSI  - Kushaina Kwa Alexio   |2009-01-22 06:18:22
I found my song, UMO on the CD, I think that's a hot song guys, can't seem to
get enough of it and DJs please give this song fair airplay.
Georgia   |2009-03-03 05:28:23
The song, Shaina is great, the first time I heard this song, I was asleep in the
morning, life was up side down, everything was so down to me but when this song
was played, everything started shining. I woke up and started doing house
work.THANKS TO ALEXIO
gakaz  - nyaya yerudo   |2009-04-11 20:49:03
nice song my brother kip it up lexx...
Lorraine  - Ms   |2009-04-29 06:14:05
I am proud of you Alexio, am your amabsador in SA
Tendekai  - Well done Alexio   |2009-05-19 16:49:06
Alexio I am not a big fan of urban grooves but I must admit that after listening
to your album, I was very impressed by your prowess. The album is loaded and the
lyrics are powerful on all the songs. What is unique about this album is that
all the songs are interesting and have a unique beat from RnB, Rhumba, Jazz, you
name it. I am proud of you man. Keep it up
annah  - shaina   |2009-08-02 05:20:16
alexio handina mashoko sha u rock the world my dear i like you and your voice.
you a compared to none
Chidobabe  - shaina   |2009-09-18 05:07:15
you rock man l love your songs especially tsamba.Shaina no 1
MAY Maranyika  - Wakapenga   |2009-10-02 12:13:47
shamwari u are number one .
tanaka maenzanise  - i am his best frainds cosion and my coson is the 1   |2009-11-24 14:47:00


blantina   |2009-12-26 07:59:52
I think shaina is thee song,yu kno my sista z crazy abt that one and the whole
family z jus intoxicated.
audrey  - mrs   |2009-12-30 06:10:14
you have always been my favourite zimbabwean crooner!SHAINA is
uncomparable,inspirational and very rejuvinating to the soul.i wish you all the
very best in your career-YOU ARE A VERY TALENTED YOUNG MAN AND AN EXCELLENT ROLE
MODEL TO THE YOUTHS,WELL DONE.i am here in new zealand-i miss home every time i
listen to this young man's wonderful music.GOOD LUCK ALEXIO.

3.26 Copyright (C) 2008 Compojoom.com / Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

 

From the Picture Archives

Nonsikelelo Sibanda

Just call me Nonsi. Zimbabwe's Miss Africa USA 2010 semi-finalist, Nonsikelelo Sibanda.

Read more...




first
  
last
 
 
start
stop
Banner
Banner

Zimbo Jam on Facebook

The Zimbo Jam on Facebook

This Month's Celeb Birthdays

Hope Masike - 09 September
Mbira player, founder and lead vocalist for Kakuwe band.
Elvas Mari - 15 September
Director of the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe.
Vanessa Sibanda - 19 September
Miss Harare and Miss Tourism Zimbabwe 2009 winner.
Oliver Dairai 'Tuku' Mtukudzi - 22 September
A great guitarist, vocalist, performer, composer and an award-winning Zimbabwean musician with a beat named after him:'tuku' by his fans.He started out as a professional musician when he joined the Wagon Wheels in 1977 and since then is widely regarded as the most celebrated performer in the country's history.
Kazz - 26 September
The younger of the Bkay & Kazz duo currently rocking the Channel O. They are Zimbabwean (Masvingo) born and based in the UK.
Do you know a Zimbabwean celeb born this month? Tell us about it and let's celebrate each other like there's no tomorrow!