Gazza Hits the 10 Album Mark

FROM his first album ‘Tanauka’ to ‘Stof-Lap Chikapute’ and ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’, Gazza has managed to reinvent himself with the release of each of his nine albums. With the release of his milestone 10th album ‘Ondjila’, he is determined to continue the trend.

Spending 18 months working on the album, both in and out of the studio, Gazza is ready to deliver the 18-track album which he hopes will contribute to a unique sound to Namibia.

“I have a song on the album where I used the cultural ovaWambo clap, hopefully this can become part of the Namibian sound,” Gazza said.

Known for his push to penetrate the international market and carry the Namibian sound far beyond our borders, it comes as no surprise that Gazza worked with artists and producers from South Africa, and produced part of the album in South African studios.

He has also already prepared the ground in South Africa for the promotion of his album by performing on South African’s popular ‘Sunrise’ show on eTV.

For his 10th offering, Gazza chose to work with whoever could contribute the best to the album, whether established or upcoming.

He featured Uhuru and DJ Buckz from South Africa and Black Sheep, Sally, MZ and Y-Jay from Namibia. In terms of production, Gazza worked with Uhuru, Elvo and other upcoming talents like Sam E Lee Jones, Young-T and MZ.

“I did not know MZ until he approached me and he ended up doing some producing also. The main producer on the album, Pimp, is also an upcoming producer,” Gazza said.

Many may not know, but Gazza has over the years mastered the art of freestyling while recording. His hit ‘Kwateni Omunona’ was also a result of his walking into the studio, listening to a beat and freestyling to it.

“70% of this album is freestyle.

Once I hear the beat, it motivates my creativity and I just go with it. I have always done it, I just always felt weird because other people write down their lyrics,” Gazza said. The ‘Shukusha’ singer says that listeners can expect anything and everything from this album. It is “conscious, playful, danceable, happy and sad”. He describes the entire album as a true reflection of who he is, telling the story of his journey.

The multiple award winner says he is determined to take this album across Africa and beyond the seas, making it available to all.

“Uhuru is one of the biggest artists in Africa and working with him will give me bigger exposure. I am also working on having the album available in Musica. It will be available both in hardcopy and digitally,” Gazza said.

Although no dates have been set yet, Gazza will have an album launch at the popular club Taboo in Johannesburg as well as in Windhoek in early August, with a launch in the North scheduled for 30 August.

For now music lovers and Gazza fans can sit back, relax and wait to see what Gazza has to offer with ‘Ondjila’.

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