“IN remixing popular songs I am driven by the desire to see artistes’ popularity grow and get their products to a wider audience,” says controversial Tawanda Kasaira popularly known in music circles as ‘Dr Tawanda’.
A remix is a song that has been edited or completely recreated to sound different from the original version.
For example, the pitch of the singer’s voice or the tempo might be changed.
It might be made shorter or longer.
In an interview with The Patriot about his latest project, the remix of the popular Dendera tune ‘Sean Timba’ by the high riding Sulumani Chimbetu, Kasaira said he was motivated more by the need to see musicians grow their fan base rather than making money.
The producer who caught the attention of players and fans in the music industry after remixing songs by Sungura maestro Alick Macheso insists he is not making any profit from the ‘work’ he is doing.
“I am not making money out of the remixes, instead I am making songs more popular by turning them from Sungura to the ‘House’ genre thereby attracting a bigger audience,” Kasaira said.
While remixes are nothing out of the ordinary and a norm in the music industry, what has made Kasaira controversial is working on artistes’ song without reaching an agreement.
For instance, the producer remixed some of Macheso’s songs without his permission prompting the Sungura ace to stop Kasaira from releasing the remix album.
But this time around, the producer insists that he spoke to Sulumani Chimbetu and reached an agreement to remix ‘Sean Timba’, which was a hit with both the young and old, to lend it a House feel.
Kasaira said he was in the process of working on more of Sulu’s music.
The Dendera crooner’s publicist, Joe Nyamungoma confirmed that they had given Kasaira the green light to remix ‘Sean Timba’, but an agreement had not been reached on other songs.
“Through these remixes I am not just entertaining the fans, but also promoting and popularising songs by my fellow artistes,” said Kasaira.
More songs, he said, will be remixed after consultation with artistes.
Kasaira said he was currently engaged in talks with multiple award winner and man-of-the-moment, Jah Prayzah.
Songs he plans to remix include ‘Gochi Gochi’ and ‘Sisi Makachena’.
“I have not yet discussed it at length with Jah Prayzah, but soon after discussions, I am hoping we will work on them.”
Apart from remixing popular songs, Kasaira has produced albums for popular Batswana musician Slizer.
He also worked with the now ‘born-again’ Beverley Sibanda on her debut album Tapinda.
The producer has a gospel album Tevera Jesu under his belt produced in 2005.