Patrick Goes Solo

His first solo album, ‘Sikiliza’, will be released next month, he told unWrap.online recently.

Mwashindange clarified that the group is not splitting up, but their management is merely giving them an opportunity for individual personal growth and self-expression.

“These are experimental projects but also based on individual musical influences. So, they will probably not be the same because of our maturity levels and industry placement in terms of genre, and what makes us musically strong on an individual basis. That one thing that makes us unique and that sets us apart. It’s all about how we can conquer as a team,” he said.

Mwashindange’s project will be the first to be released among the three group members, and he believes it will set him on course to be one of the greatest ever Namibian artists.

“I want to be relevant, I want to be doing all that is possible to groom and grow the industry because I’m a person that is always trying to better myself. I got bored and I get bored very quickly, so when I’m bored, I’m trying to elevate and trying to change and improve. The new journey is going to be fun,” he said.

The meteoric rise of PDK is a subject of much fascination in Namibian music circles, and the group’s relevance over the years has grown better by the day, like choice wine.

Mwashindange recalls some of the best times with his musical brothers when releasing PDK’s first album ‘Skoko’.

“Just being a national artist, where music is released and distributed throughout the country, that has to be the most beautiful memory. Also being appreciated back then and being celebrated in the end. Also performing on big stages with international acts.

“But the best memories are those we had on the road. Those are the best because that is where we do most of our talking, that’s where we do most of our laughing, that’s why we do most of our stories. We were not distracted by the outside world, it was just the three of us on the road getting to our destination,” he said.

A solo career will be unfamiliar territory for the ‘Dirty Kandeshi’ musician, who has over the years experimented with cover versions, as well as combining English and local languages on various songs centering on themes of love, infatuation and gratitude.

PDK’s contribution to the growth of local music has been made possible because of the group’s versatile energy, as well as an intermingling of a very localised sound with spirited acrobatic performances.

The group’s ability to understand the needs of the market has seen them become the darlings of the Namibian music scene, with an uncanny ability to connect with the streets while still appealing to a sophisticated audience.

With successful projects such as the chart-topping ‘Saka’, featuring Athawise, Top Cheri and King Elegant, PDK has set itself on a path towards recreating themselves into global citizens that are equally able to deliver at home and abroad.

With artistic prowess featuring heavily in terms of choreography that reignites a typically Namibian ‘Wacko Jacko’ flair, PDK is able to resurrect the vibe of the old school into the realm of the new school.

But after reaching a certain level of success, the history of boy bands the world over has taught us that they do not last much longer, often heading for the rocks, with a case in point being Nigeria’s P-Square. The PDK house has had the foresight to see this and has worked to avoid it, in order to preserve its brand within a space of a united brotherhood of equals.

“We want to push the PDK brand business in merchandise and groom upcoming musicians, teaching them about the business and how to stay relevant, be disciplined and be part of every playlist, both in the corporate arena, and also to be the darling of the nation,” he said.

– unWrap.online

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