By Khalifa Hemed
Published March 20, 2019
Following the successful release of a song and a video calling upon Kenyans to not only play more local music on the air waves but to also consume it more, a western Kenya-based musician is back with a new audio track and video that grapple with the definition of ‘local’ and ‘international’ in the music business.
RELATED:New Song Calls for Support for Kenyan Music
The title of the new song by Kisumu-based lyricist and performing artist known as Gabiro Mtu Necessary is International Local that, he says, “is one of those songs that tries to enlighten us that your favourite international artist was also once a local artist or maybe they still are local but on a much elevated platform that makes all of us see them in that context.”
RELATED:African Poetry Book Prize Winner Announced
Seeing the two artists define and combine their level of creativity, skills and ability on a track is one thing many of us would have wanted to happen sooner, considering Videz produced the hit single Nitembezee (push it for me or support me in Kiswahili) by Gabiro that was released almost three months ago. The track, a Kenyan sound fused with Caribbean sound to give it the much hyped up feeling and vibe expected in a club banger, Nitembezee went on to elevate Gabiro Mtu Necessary to a new level of artist.
RELATED:Entertainer Serves Dancehall as East Africa Parties
Gabiro Mtu Necessary featured a recording and stage act known as Kidis the Jembe in Nitembezee that was produced by Videz of Hybrid Beats.
Like all Gabiro Mtu Necessary’s works, the videos of International Local and Nitembezee were directed by Crizo Mzeyah.
“I owe a lot to my fans and everyone who puts my work out there in one way or another,” Gabiro Mtu Necessary says of the release of the International Local track and video. “When I was almost giving up on music you all gave me a thousand reasons not to stop doing this and so International Local is just one but a few of the reasons you should also not stop supporting and showing unconditional love towards me as a brand and as a person. This song is the definition of the standard of quality I promised to deliver!”
RELATED:Aggressive Marketing Leads to Booming Tourism Growth
