Singer Dixon may have been keeping a low profile but don’t be fooled – he’s been hard at work and is about to release his fifth studio album. As an artist, he has certainly contributed immensely to the growth of R&B in Namibia. He chats to The Weekender about his upcoming album and his partnership with Ultimate Rhythm Entertainment.
Having been on the music scene for years, Dixon’s recipe for making hits is challenging his previous work. He finds inspiration from the series of events that happen in his life.
“Nobody can tell my story better than I do. My team is also brutally honest when it comes to my music, they are not afraid to tell me when I am slacking and that keeps me going.”
Dixon has been spending ample time in studio with his band finalising his next offering. “The new album is due for release next month or in April.”
He reveals that he has had a long working relationship with Ultimate Rhythm Entertainment but officially signed to the label in 2016. It has been a fruitful partnership ever since. The label also recently signed Ngoma Drum, which Dixon touts as the next big music acts in Namibia.
“At Ultimate Rhythm Entertainment, our mantra is working hard and moving at our own pace until some organisations or companies recognise what value we can add and perhaps work with us,” says Dixon.
Offering an abstract of the upcoming album, the singer says it will take music fans back to a time when Namibian music was raw and authentic. He also disclosed that 80% of the album is up-tempo, because he wants his fans to saka low on this one. He dedicates this project to his day one fans, saying that they are his strength.
“I want my fans to listen to this album from the first track to the last track without skipping a song. I want them to understand why I take a long time to work on my albums.”
On the current state of R&B in Namibia, Dixon says he doesn’t believe it is as strong as it used to be when he was coming up. “Maybe it’s because Namibians just want to dance these days.”
He feels the genre’s lack of appreciation has forced many R&B artists to switch up their style to connect to a wider audience.
“Personally, I have been versatile from the beginning of my career so it is easy for me to cater to music fans who consume different types of music genres,” he says. The singer also notes that R&B is experiencing an identity crisis and urged Namibian artists to be proud of telling Namibian stories through their music.
“A lot of artists are starting to sound too Nigerian or South African. I think this is making our chances of breaking into the African market slim because we are replicating what is already out there. I salute musicians who are still trying to incorporate Namibian flair in their music. My aim is to keep it as authentic as I can until my music hits the right ears without me having to change to fit in.”
Beside his notable solo work, Dixon has also been known for lending catchy hooks to other artists. On why collaborations are important in music, the singer says he mostly collaborates when he knows that he is going to add value to a song: “Collaborations are important as they unite the industry and if I know that the song will sound nicer if I jump on it, I will not hesitate. I am also open and keen to jump on a song for a good cause; creating awareness for health, for instance”.
His career highlights entail having fans who love and support his music.
“I once performed in Walvis Bay and the fans were showing me so much love that I could not even hear the music. That assured me that my fans are out there in small towns just waiting for me to rock up,” says Dixon, who will make a point of it to visit as many towns as possible when the new album drops.
Radio presenter Dazzle Shawn Skrywer, who hosts the weekly ‘Drums of Africa’ top 10 countdown, told that Dixon is one of the best singers to emerge from Katutura – one who has established a strong fan base for himself over the years. “Because of the good music he has given us, both as a solo artist and through collaborations, music fans will always look forward to his new material. I am positive that some of those bangers he has been cooking up will make it to our countdown,” he said.
