Vibrant and dexterous musician, Carmen Hwarari Mutengo will tomorrow launch her debut album ‘I Call to You’ at the Harare International School.
The 32 year old who was born and bred in Bulawayo has been in the game for a while now and has worked with acts such as Busi Ncube, the late Andy Brown, Willis Wataffi Afirika, the late Adam Chisvo, Willom Tight, Blessing Chimanga and Transit Crew among many others.
In an interview with Zimbo Jam, Carmen revealed that the album is dominated with gospel jams.
“I am very passionate about delivering a product that will be a pace-setter and standard-breaker for my generation and the generations to come,” she said.
“I have received international exposure in the past and I believe that this will be my breakthrough production. I am passionately pursuing every opportunity to make sure it’s the best that it can be.”
In 2006 she enrolled at Midlands State University where she studied for a Bachelor of Science in Music and Musicology, and with some fellow students formed the very first music band at the university, ‘African Destiny’. Carmen is the lead vocalist, mbira and percussion player in the band. They won a Music Crossroads competition and toured Sweden in 2010, and in the same year Carmen graduated with a 1st Class Degree.
Continued Carmen, “It is important to me that we create a product that will be recognised on world charts, and have more people appreciating the talent that Zimbabwe has to offer.
“The production is not only focused on my talents, but will also showcase the talents of some fifth grade violin and cello students who will feature on a few songs, and of course every other talented musicians who will share the stage with me. It will be a fresh, energetic product, an expression of creativity and musical ideas, a story of different emotions and a message of peace and happiness.”
Over the years she has toured a lot of countries as a performer and workshop leader and she is presently teaching music at the Harare International School, and is a vocal, mbira, marimba and dance coach.
Carmen is married to Taona Mutengo, a musician in his own right, guitarist, songwriter and lecturer in the Music department at Midlands State University, and they have a 5-year-old daughter who is already following their music path.
