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'Getting Africa to listen to my music', interview with PureMatics

by Matthews Estell
14 Jul 2011 at 12:18hrs | Views
In search of pure home grown talent and striving to put Zimbabwean artists on the map, Bulawayo24.com caught up with one of Zimbabwe's upcoming artists popularly known as PureMatics.

Bulawayo born PureMatics (born Mbongeni Jordan Nleya), has been causing quite a storm in the UK-LiveDub band scene.

PureMatics aka PURe=mc2, was born at Pelandaba Clinic. Raised in the streets of Mpopoma, BarbourFields, Mzilikazi, Makokoba in Bulawayo and currently living it up in Hull City Kingstown Upon Humber.

PureMatics recently released his debut tittle track Hostile TakeOver with the video hitting the shelves on 13 July 2011.

How would you describe your music?

My music is a mixture of African Kwaito, Mbaqanga and khwela mixed with a bit of the UK dub, dubstep and hiphop.

Which musicians do you look up to?
Ndux Malax, Jinx aka Muna, Idiolog, Dr Dre, Brenda Fasi, Kingstown Allstars, Notorious BIG, Bone Thugs In Harmony, Lovemore Majaivana, Simon "Chopper" Chimbetu, Twista and Isley Brothers and Paul Matavire, Sankomota and TearGas and Pitch Black Afro just to name a few.

How many albums do you have so far and what is your favourite song?
Hostile Takeover is my debut album with a minimum 20 tracks, still selecting the final album cut. I have also produced numerous tracks for Hull City based hip-hop outfits like East Yorkshire's Jinx aka Muna, MC Nitro, Creepy Crawler, Young Salem and Projekt-Feenix.

My favourite song from the album has got to be, Hostile Takeover and 2Pax 2Glox 2Rox, because there are entirely dedicated to the streets of Hull City UK, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa respectively.

What can you tell us about your forthcoming album?
The album offers music lovers the opportunity to be entertained with cultural Zimbabwean music "laced" with the finest of beats from across the world. Track 1, the intro features the voice of my late father, Aleck N.D Nleya. Ironically, he is giving me much needed advice and to this date I'll always be happy for receiving and understanding it.

The intro is followed by Hostile Takeover and BYO show respectively. BYO Show is a track about taking visitors on a Bulawayo tour. Nitromatics featuring MC Nitro (UK Hardcore MC), the song is the Hull City answer to BYO and uses the same instrumental produced by Systemata. Groove Guzz galore is another Ndebele/Zulu biased track, personally enjoyed the most working on this tune.
Some of the tracks to look out for are Mama Wami (Navee), Levi's song, Baby Mama Drama Remix, 2Pax 2Glox 2Rox, Kuli Chiphwando, Style Warz, Rural, Chibuku Ghetto Swagger, Feens got fed, Back o Beyond and Lyrical Warfare are set to be in the final cut.

Do you do live performance?
Yes, I do live shows and most of the live shows in England, are performed with live dub, reggae, or jazz bands. Playing with a band is the best live experience an artist can ever hope for. No disrespect to most MCs but performing with a band makes the music sound sweeter to the ear. Places I have played in include, The Lamp, The Fruit, Adelphi and Linnet and Lark in Hull City.

Out of your live performances which one do you consider to be your best?
The 24th of June show at The Lamp, I was on a cherry brown tangent enhancement state of mind. Everything ran like clockwork. The band was fabulous, the audience amazing, and I spotted many familiar faces. "Yebo yes we rowed the boat from Spurn Point to Jamaica. Pete Till provided the sound system, and if Pete is on the job, the sound is wow.

Do you write all your songs?
Yes, I write all my songs except for when I'm featuring on someone else's track. I tend to work around them comparing flow charts. The magic works best that way, rather than just spitting flows with no game.

How do you write your songs?
I write all my songs in my head, especially if the track is a LeviTechStudiosUK production, otherwise I sometimes write poetry on my mobile phone. Some gadgets I found useful for writing are the google-SuperPad and the MSN notebook. It makes it easier to deliver to on the mic if reading from a big screen.

Are you looking for fortune or fame?
Fortune.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a musician?
Getting the people of Africa to listen to my music. Here in UK, PureMatics is a musical powerhouse, yet in Dombodema, they don't even know me and that I am Kalanga. (Pure - Smiles uncontrollably).

How do you overcome such barrier in your music career?
We can overcome all this by working together as artists and media houses. Thanks to the internet times are swiftly changing. Soon everyone in the world will be able to download my tunes without having the need to come to UK to watch me. (Hehehe)

How can one get hold of your music?
My music is available for free download from the following links.

Facebook
Youtube
Soundcloud
Facebook Page
Indiecharts

Before you, leave is there anyone you would love to thank ?
Yes, I would like to thank Indaba Ndaba for providing a platform for African artists like myself to shine. Big shout out to my son and best friend Levi M Nleya (LiLMaN), my mother Mrs E. Nleya, my brothers Lisani, Batisani and Andile Nleya. Also my sister Mrs T.I Ncube, Volcom, Makhox, Jon Nelson, Slim Tubby, Queenie and last but not least my beautiful and loyal fans. ONe LOVe, "Row that boat".

Source - Byo24News