Phil Zulu’ itch is to make music distinguished from all other musicians including his father. He wants to be a man on his own with a distinct destiny. First he departed from Marabi music and settled afro jazz. Even though his father Kireni Zulu found popularity with Marabi music, with songs like Zvekungonhonga and Dherira so ingressed into people's minds that anyone at anytime can unconsciously hym when busy with their work. Phil still insists he will make a separate legacy to compliment his father's.
Phil Zulu admits that he followed his father’s footsteps as music runs in his veins. His first album was released in 2008 Zvenzeve but it was not well marketed. It took him ten years to start working on another project which he released late last year. Tariro is an album laden with social commentary, it is doing well on radio and social media channels. The lockdown restrictions have disrupted Phil Zulu's plans to embark on a promotional tour of his album.
Phil stressed the need to work hard on his own and not wait for favours because he is the son of a legend. Phil has made up strategies to challenge for national honours. I asked him what challenges he was facing as an emerging artist? Also considering that he had somewhere to start from since his father was now established in the music industry. Phil did not means his words about his journey in music that, it was his own and he was following a different market altogether.
“So many things have changed because there are no longer any record labels we can tap into their expertise . You have to invent everything yourself from scratch. From the investment to market research you are responsible at the same time you also need to be creating the music”.
He went on to lay out the importance of sponsors and promoters in the music industry.
"Investment is dry these days, very few artists have access to promoters owing to the economic situation in Zimbabwe. Its very difficult for the society to spare money to buy our music. So most of the musicians’ income is directly coming from live shows and a few online sales".
Phil guaranteed sponsors and promoters a lot of returns if they invest in his music. Besides sales and income from live shows Phil says his music can help in social campaigns against domestic violence, infrastructural vandalism, substance abuse and political intolerance. He said his father taught him to compose relevant songs that have an attachment with the society and he is very sure if exposed he will make good social investment, he is a bankable artist.
Music is his career but Phil says he works somewhere so that he can feed his family, and be able to sustain his band too. His ultimate goal is to influence the globe with his music. Icons like Bob Marley, Michael Jackson move him a lot. Helping other musicians is also his future intention as he is working on establishing a studio.
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