Entertainment / Music
Zimbabwean music producer making waves in US
27 May 2013 at 03:47hrs | Views
Zimbabwean music producer Tinashe Sibanda, also known as "T-Collar," is making waves in the United States after having worked with such big names as 1da (producer for Drake, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, Kanye West), Osinachi (producer for B.o.B, T.I, Diggy Simmons, Pussycat Dolls), Tunji Balogun (A&R at Interscope Records), Dani Ivory (pianist for Cee Lo Green, Beyonce) and Charlie Wilson pianist/band director for Rihanna, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake) among others.
The Harare-born producer said he started to write music when he was 13.
"It started as a hobby," T-Collar said, "but when I started making beats and playing them for my friends at youth groups, I loved seeing their reactions".
The Full Sail University graduate said he was inspired by American producer/singer Timbaland.
"In my country I was a pioneer. There was no other Zimbabwean whose path I could follow or blueprint I could study to accomplish my dream," he said.
Since moving to Los Angeles, T-Collar has been reunited with Taps Mugadza and Simba Tsumba, his two childhood friends from Harare.
"Trust is the most important element of artistic collaboration. It makes for an incredibly creative environment working with people who you have already established trust with. Some of my best sessions have been with Taps. We can get in the room and really push the boundaries of music," said T-Collar
"Be patient, never stop being a student, and work harder. No one who finds success ever looks back and thinks that they worked too hard," added T-Collar.
The Harare-born producer said he started to write music when he was 13.
"It started as a hobby," T-Collar said, "but when I started making beats and playing them for my friends at youth groups, I loved seeing their reactions".
The Full Sail University graduate said he was inspired by American producer/singer Timbaland.
Since moving to Los Angeles, T-Collar has been reunited with Taps Mugadza and Simba Tsumba, his two childhood friends from Harare.
"Trust is the most important element of artistic collaboration. It makes for an incredibly creative environment working with people who you have already established trust with. Some of my best sessions have been with Taps. We can get in the room and really push the boundaries of music," said T-Collar
"Be patient, never stop being a student, and work harder. No one who finds success ever looks back and thinks that they worked too hard," added T-Collar.
Source - Correspondent
