Pumumu, the December maker

Here is how the interview went down with Gazza



tjil (T): Tell us about the Pumumu double album.

Gazza (G): The album is turning to be something new and different every day. Firstly it was hard choosing the best 18 tracks from about 30 tracks. We had to eventually develop a double album. It was also tricky getting the right balance of songs on both CDs so they get equal attention from the fans. With my experience, and while working on this project I was more free musically, meaning I was experimenting my voice and tried out some instrumentals that I haven''t used before because I needed a feel-good album. All your December moments must be built around the Pumumu album just like Stof-Lap Chikapute, 467/GMP Till I Die, Cosa Nostra: La Familia and my other albums did.



T: Who did you feature on the album?

G: There are many features, there''s Emtee, Nyanda from Brick and Lace, Ghanaian and Nigerian features and Tequila, Lady May and Jeiyo from Namibia - just to mention a few. The hardest one to work with was Nyanda, I would say. Firstly she''s very beautiful so you won''t know whether to look at her face or listen to her voice you know (laughs). I had to travel to Miami for the first time and by myself, which wasn''t easy because just the airport alone seemed like a town on its own you know, but her team was very helpful. Being Jamaican and African seemed the same and so they made me feel at home instantly and the conversation sparked from there on. I had to direct the production of the song and I had to choose the type of feel I was going for.



T: Will there be music videos?

G: Music videos are the future, it''s hard to sell music alone as it is and visuals help a lot. We have shot some already, the track with Nyanda is done… if you recall me going back and forth to Miami, that was to shoot. That video will only be released around April next year because it has to sync with the American summer. We shot some at Swakopmund and this Sunday we will be shooting the summer song video with Suzy Eises. The one with Davido is shot but it was only released in Namibia and Universal still has to put their trademark on it.



T: What influence does being signed to a label like Universal have on GMP?

G: I am the first Namibian to be signed under this label so there isn''t anyone I could compare myself to and I also can''t compare with other countries because our population isn''t like ours and the benefits will be different. So I am yet to find out what influence Universal will add to my brand. I''m positive as this makes us the best music label in Namibia because we are aligned to a giant label and the deal for Namibia is also huge. Universal didn''t sign Gazza but it signed GMP records as a whole. They entrusted me with spotting new material that will be of interest to them. I already have people sending me their music on Whats App. Once my album irons out, things will be clearer to me and I will be able to see how I can help other talent and what it is they can expect from Universal.



T: Do you have to liaise with Universal with regards to the content of your music?

G: Most definitely. It''s totally cool because we communicate via mail and telephonic conversations so I don''t know whether to say I''m lucky or not because the person that I communicate with is the boss himself and I''m fortunate enough that he has time for me. It''s always about the energy you present at the end of the day and that is what makes us human. You carry a certain energy and this is how you portray yourself. It doesn''t matter how big or small you are at the end of the day. A lot of people will call it being real and that is what I try to be all the time. I don''t sell myself with things I won''t manage at the end of the day. Just remain real and humble.



T: Give us all details with regards to 3 December.

G: It will be huge because I will be unveiling all the artists that are under the GMP record label and they will also perform some of their music. My album will hit the stores around 28 November so the release is earlier than the launch. The venue is Unam''s main campus sports field.

Tickets are going for N$50 general access, N$150 golden circle plus album and N$500 for VIP which includes a rugby bar which will have two big screens in it feeding live from the stadium so one can watch from inside if they don''t want to be outside. They have three options of where they will catch the show from. There will be food platters and very expensive welcome drinks for the VIPs.



T: Will you be the entering NAMAS 2017?

G: I hope I will be entering. The album will only be available commercially from the 28 November and it''s unfortunate as we might enter songs that might not be appealing to the public as it''s usually the fans that motivate the songs that we enter. We hope for the best outcome.



T: This is your 11th album, what is the way forward?

G: I am enjoying my space as an artist, it is really relieving to do a song from the heart to the point of not knowing what genre it is simply because it came from within… which means you are fully into it. I want to write my music that way for as long as I can and for now I just want to ride that wave. As soon as I drop this album I will be back in studio because I really enjoy making music. Music is my life and without it I will be very disappointed (laughs).



T: How would you advise someone to go about music?

G: If one can give up everything for music then they have what it takes to do music. I once gave up my family for music because I used to support them and when I stopped I couldn''t anymore you know. I had lost it all because of music and when everything came to light I got all I had lost back. If one can do that then they have what it takes. It''s all about the passion and that is what still drives me. I always say the depth of your struggle will maintain the height of your success.



June Shimuoshili